Pakistan 194 (Babar 58, Rabada 3-55, Maharaj 2-14) and 213 for 1 (f/o) (Masood 102*, Babar 81) trail South Africa 615 by 208 runs
South Africa’s five front-line bowlers had to work hard on a surface that remained good for batters despite signs of turning. They have also bowled 23 no-balls in the two innings so far – 10 in the current second innings alone – and will be disappointed with their poor discipline. Their only success in the second innings came late in the day when Babar chased a full, wide ball from Marco Jansen and nearly slipped. The night watchman Khurram Shahzad accompanied Masood until the end of the day.
After dismissing Pakistan for 194 midway through the afternoon session, South Africa forced the follow-on in a bid to wrap things up early. But Kagiso Rabada and Jansen both opted for too much and created only one chance between them. Rabada found Masood’s edge, with the Pakistan captain on 18, but the ball crossed into the vacant third region, leaving Rabada on his haunches.
Change bowlers Wiaan Mulder and Kwena Maphaka barely threatened and Pakistan came to tea with an unbeaten 80. Rabada and Keshav Maharaj resumed for the evening session and while Rabada tried a short ball tactic, Maharaj found his turn but Pakistan played them both well. Masood’s fifty came when he pulled Rabada to mid-wicket and Babar’s fifty hit a drive off Jansen. It was the second time in the day that Babar took his bat to a half-century after also reaching the milestone in the first innings, and his third consecutive fifty on this tour.
As the two settled down, South Africa’s frustration boiled over and Mulder played the ball back to Babar as he came out of his crease to defend. He hit Babar on the shin and words were exchanged before referee Dharmasena intervened to calm things down. The only other drama came when Rabada was convinced he had Masood in weight when he hit him on the knee and South Africa were considering a review, but Rabada had overstepped.
Masood got to his century with a knock from Jansen and celebrated with a look to the sky. Babar looked set to follow him, but he hit a slower Jansen ball and headed to Bedingham at slip, to give him his fifth catch of the day. Although Babar did not reach a century, he scored 108 runs in the day – 27 during the night and 81 in the second innings.
Pakistan resumed on 64 for 3 under some clouds and found the early exchanges difficult. Rabada beat the pace, Jansen found extra bounce and although both made things difficult for Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, they could not dismiss them. Jansen hit Rizwan on the collarbone in the first 45 minutes as Rizwan tried to shoot with one arm, but he recovered to hit Jansen for four and six at the same time.
Babar took Pakistan’s hundred with an edge to the slips and his fifty off the next ball when he clipped Rabada over point. But when debutant Kwena Maphaka swung one leg down, Babar followed in an attempt to knock her off her hips and headed towards Kyle Verreynne. A joyous Maphaka took off in Imran Tahir fashion all the way to third place, followed by his teammates in celebration. It was the third time since 2022 that Babar was strangled on the leg, the most by a Pakistani batter in that time.
The Babar-Rizwan partnership broke down in 98, with the responsibility falling on Rizwan to continue to deteriorate. Against the run of play, Rizwan advanced on Mulder and tried to smash him to the ground to reach his fifty, but failed at his stumps. And then Salman Agha, who had lamented the lack of turn when bowling, was lured forward by a Maharaj delivery that went past the outside edge and was stumped.
Pakistan lost 6 for 76 either side of lunch, most of them due to stray shots. Aamer Jamal was bounced by Rabada as he couldn’t resist a swinging pull and Khurram Shahzad couldn’t maintain a square drive. It may not be these two who got the job done but, after the way Pakistan batted in the second innings, they might look back on their shot selection in the first with some regret , especially on this surface.