Pakistan 177 for 3 (Masood 77, Shafique 57, Harmer 2-57) vs South Africa*
Pakistan strengthened their position in the Test series after a patient second session, frustrating a South African attack that found little reward for its efforts.
Abdullah Shafique was given three lifelines—on 0, 15, and 41—before he reached his sixth Test fifty, while Shan Masood also survived a dropped catch on 71. Several edges fell just short of the fielders, leaving South Africa ruing missed opportunities on a pitch that is expected to deteriorate further.
Anticipating a drier surface, South Africa adjusted their bowling attack—bringing in left-arm seamer Marco Jansen and pairing left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy. Offspinner Simon Harmer, who posed the biggest threat, created more chances than the scorecard reflected.
The drama began in the opening over when Kagiso Rabada almost dismissed Shafique with his third ball, only for Tristan Stubbs to drop the catch at third slip. Shafique responded by driving the next ball through point for the first boundary of the innings. Imam-ul-Haq also survived two edges that fell short of the slips.
Jansen, sharing the new ball, came agonizingly close to hitting the stumps when the ball brushed them without dislodging the bails. After a brief spell, he made way for Maharaj, who soon missed a return catch off Shafique’s leading edge. The spinner extracted little turn early on but later found Shafique’s edge—again, not carrying to the fielders.
Just when South Africa might have begun to lose hope, Harmer’s third delivery spun past Imam’s outside edge and hit off stump. The offspinner, now seven wickets away from 1,000 in first-class cricket, immediately looked menacing. He followed that up with an lbw appeal against Masood, which was turned down, and nearly had him caught at short leg.
Pakistan’s scoring rate remained modest—just over 2.5 runs an over—for the first 16 overs. But in the 17th, Masood shifted gears, charging down to hit Harmer for six. Though he nearly edged one soon after, he continued his assault, striking Harmer and Muthusamy for more boundaries, putting South Africa under early pressure.
When Shafique missed a cut against Maharaj, South Africa reviewed for lbw, but replays showed a clear inside edge. Pakistan reached lunch at 95 for 1.
In the afternoon, the hosts advanced steadily. Shafique again offered chances—one gloved edge off Maharaj deflected to Markram at slip, who failed to grasp it after moving the wrong way. Shafique completed a measured fifty off 120 deliveries but fell soon after, edging Harmer down the leg side to wicketkeeper Verreynne. The dismissal, confirmed on review, ended a 111-run partnership for the second wicket.
Babar Azam began confidently, driving Harmer through the covers, but almost lost Masood in the next over when the latter was dropped by Muthusamy at short fine leg. Babar added to South Africa’s frustration with back-to-back boundaries before they unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw appeal against him.
Relief finally came for South Africa when Babar pushed forward to Maharaj, and Tony de Zorzi pulled off a stunning one-handed diving catch at silly mid-off—bringing much-needed joy to the visitors.
