DAY 3: Jansen's six wickets help dismiss Pakistan, SA need 148 runs to win first test

Marco Jansen claimed magnificent figures of 6-52 to lead the way in dismissing Pakistan for 237 in their second innings leaving the home side with a target of 148 to win the first test against Pakistan on the third day of the first test at Supersport Park in Centurion on Saturday.

Jansen bagged the key wicket of the last batsman, Saud Shakeel, who missed a knee-high full toss and was trapped lbw for 84 from 113 balls (10x4, 1x6) after the tourists had taken tea on 212 for eight hoping that Shakeel would be able to push the target beyond 150.

Corbin Bosch claimed the final wicket of number 11 Mohammad Abbas courtesy of a smart catch by Aiden Markram at second slip, leaving the hosts with approximately 80 minutes to bat before the close of play.

Persistent drizzle delayed the start of play until 1:40pm and Babar Azam (50) and Shakeel batted comfortably through the first hour taking their fourth-wicket partnership to 79 before Jansen (10-1-42-5) struck in unconventional fashion.

A short, wide delivery was ingloriously upper cut by Babar straight to Corbin Bosch on the deep cover boundary and the wicket floodgates opened.

Mohammad Rizwan (3) gloved a half-hearted pull shot against Jansen into Kyle Verreynne’s gloves down the legside and Salman Agha played a millionaire’s drive at another wide ball from Jansen and edged it to Verreynne.

Amir Jamal (18) played the third poor shot of the day, top-edging a hook against Dane Paterson to Ryan Rickelton at deep square leg and Naseem Shah (0) flapped inelegantly at his fourth ball from Kagiso Rabada (2-68) to gift Tristan Stubbs a straightforward catch at third slip.

The contest was intriguingly poised when the tourists resumed on 88 for three with former captain, Babar, on 16 and Shakeel on eight. Popular opinion was that a fourth innings run-chase of over 150 might prove problematic and that certainly seemed possible at 153 for three, a lead of 63 with seven wickets remaining.

But Babar’s wretched error of judgement has led to a position from which the Proteas should claim the victory they need to earn a place in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June next year.

SOUTH AFRICA: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Amir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas.