- Skipper Shan remains on the field with an unbeaten 102.
- Marco Janssen dismisses Babar Azam on the third day.
- Shan Babar put up a 205-run partnership.
Cape Town: Skipper Shan Masood and star batsman Babar Azam helped Pakistan bounce back after South Africa enforced the follow-on by bowling out the visitors for 194 in the first innings on day three of the second Test at Newlands on Sunday.
At stumps on day three, the touring side were 213/1, trailing by 208 more runs with their skipper Shan and night-watchman Khurram Shehzad at the crease.
The record partnership between Babar and Shan largely dominated the final session, batting sensibly as the Green Shirts were forced to follow on after being bowled out for a meager 194 in the first innings, in reply to South Africa’s 615.
Shan went on to score his sixth Test century and remained unbeaten on 102 at the end of the day, while Babar agonizingly failed to reach the landmark as he was caught at the slip cordon off Marko Janssen.
The star batsman scored 81 off 124 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries.
His dismissal paved the way for night-keeper Khurram, who did well to bat away the rest of the ball and remained unbeaten in eight off 14 balls.
Earlier in the second session, Pakistan were bowled out with a meager score of 194 runs, thus succumbing to a deficit of 421 runs.
The hosts enjoyed another dominant session in the ongoing match as they picked Pakistan’s remaining three wickets by conceding just 39 runs.
Ace player Kagiso Rabada gave the hosts the first success in just the fifth round of the second session by dismissing Amer Jamal (15) with a ferocious goalkeeper.
Seamers Mir Hamza (13) and Khurram Shahzad (14) showed some resilience before being dismissed by Keshav Maharaj and Koena Mafaka, respectively.
At the conclusion of the opening session of the day, the touring side were reeling at 155/6 with Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shehzad all-in.
The visitors had a good start to the day as Babar and Rizwan extended their overnight partnership for the fourth wicket to 88 runs before the former fell victim to debutant Mafaka after a brave half-century.
Babar scored 58 runs off 127 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
Rizwan, on the other hand, struck up a brief 26-run partnership with Salman Ali Agha before both died in quick succession, taking the total to 155/6.
The wicket-keeper was cleaned out by Mulder as he went for a hard knock, while Agha was tripped off Maharaj’s sharp delivery in the 44th over.
Radwan scored 46 out of 82 passes, while Agha made 22 shots and 19.
Aamer and Khurram will resume Pakistan’s first innings of 155/6 in the second session as the visitors still trail by 460 runs.
For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada bagged two goals, while Marko Janssen, Mafaka, Mulder and Maharaj picked up one each.
Playing eleven
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan (week), Salman Agha, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shehzad, Muhammad Abbas, Mir Hamza.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickleton, Jan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Themba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verini (wk), Marco Janssen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Koena Mafaka.