The match is right in the balance at the end of day three in Centurion. Pakistan have given South Africa a massive scare and have revived their hopes in this first Test.
Starting the day with two runs behind and seven wickets in hand, Pakistan fought back well but they will rue some very soft dismissals and gifted wickets. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel starred with the bat while Marco Jansen returned with six wickets to put South Africa in control. The Pakistan new-ball bowlers ran through the South Africa top-order and took three wickets to give them a scare early in a tricky run-chase.
Day three started more than three and a half hours late due to rain. But once play started, the South African pacers were inconsistent and Pakistan cashed in. Babar Azam hit four boundaries in the span of three overs. The former Pakistan skipper looked in solid touch as he pounced on anything loose.
None of the Pakistan pacers could hit their straps straightaway. There were a few plays and misses but runs flowed regularly. Babar notched up a nice half-century. It was his first 50+ score in Test cricket since getting 161 against New Zealand in December 2022 i.e. 20 innings.
However, the star Pakistan batter fell soon after reaching the landmark. Marco Jansen struck in his first over of the day as Babar holed out at deep cover. The 79-run stand for the 4th wicket was broken.
Shakeel continued finding the boundaries and kept extending the lead. The left-hander got to his 8th Test half-century. However, he lost partners regularly. Jansen had Mohammad Rizwan caught behind down the leg-side before Salman Ali Agha edged one to the keeper to give Jansen his 5th of the innings. At 176/6, Pakistan were in trouble with a lead of 86.
That’s when Aamer Jamal and Shakeel tried resurrecting the innings with a 32-run stand. But it was Dane Paterson who broke the defiant partnership as Jamal top-edged a pull to deep square leg. Naseem Shah nicked to third slip in the following over and Pakistan slipped to 209/8.
Shakeel struck a few lusty blows to stretch Pakistan’s lead close to 150 before he missed a full toss and was LBW against Jansen. Corbin Bosch wrapped up the innings and Pakistan were bowled out for 237.
Mohammad Abbas picks 2 to give South Africa an early scare
Chasing a tricky target of 148, South Africa lost three early wickets. The Pakistan pacers put the Proteas batters under immense pressure with some excellent bowling. They attacked the stumps and the South African top-order looked nervous.
Aiden Markram started confidently with an early boundary before Mohammad Abbas pinned Tony de Zorzi LBW in the fourth over. Khurram Shahzad had Ryan Rickelton LBW in the following over as South Africa were reduced to 12/2. Tristan Stubbs didn’t last long either as Abbas had another LBW.
At the other end, it seemed like Markram was batting on a different pitch. The 30-year-old opener hit four boundaries in the 25 balls that he faced. His 22 ensured South Africa got to 27/3 before bad light forced early stumps.
South Africa still need 121 runs while Pakistan need seven wickets. The game is evenly poised heading into day four. Markram has batted beautifully but the Pakistan pacers have been on the money. Pakistan will believe they have South Africa under pressure but one good partnership will ensure the hosts are on track.
BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 211 (Kamran Ghulam 54, Aamer Jamal 28, Dane Paterson 5/61, Corbin Bosch 4/63) & 237 (Saud Shakeel 84, Babar Azam 50, Marco Jansen 6/52, Kagiso Rabada 2/68) vs South Africa 301 (Aiden Markram 89, Corbin Bosch 81*, Khurram Shahzad 3/75, Naseem Shah 3/92) & 27/3 (Aiden Markram 22*, Mohammad Abbas 2/3, Khurram Shahzad 1/22).
