SA vs PAK: Babar Azam, Shan Masood put 200-run stand for Pakistan after follow-on

Add as a preferred source on Google

SA vs PAK: Pakistan fought back strongly on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town after being forced to follow on. Shan Masood and Babar Azam combined for a resilient 200-run stand, leading the visitors to 213/1 at the stumps.

Pakistan now trails by 208 runs after being bowled out for 194 earlier in the day in response to South Africa's first-innings total of 615.

Opening in place of the injured Saim Ayub, Babar made 81 before falling late in the day. His dismissal marked the only breakthrough for South Africa in Pakistan's second innings. Masood, who went past 30 for the first time in nine innings, reached his sixth Test hundred and remained unbeaten on 102 at the close of play.

South Africa's bowlers faced a tough outing on a flat surface that still holds some promise of turn. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen opened the attack after enforcing the follow-on but failed to maintain consistent pressure. Rabada found Masood's edge early on, but the ball flew through the vacant third slip. Jansen eventually dismissed Babar with a slower ball edged to slip.

The visitors had earlier resumed their first innings at 64/3, with Babar and Mohammad Rizwan steadying the ship. Babar added a patient 58, bringing up his third successive fifty on this tour, before falling to debutant Kwena Maphaka. Rizwan contributed 45 but fell attempting an aggressive shot against Wiaan Mulder. Pakistan's middle and lower order struggled, with Rabada (3/55) and Keshav Maharaj (2/14) capitalizing on loose shots to wrap up the innings.

Masood and Babar came out with intent in the second innings, denying the South African bowlers significant breakthroughs. Masood reached his hundred with a flick off Jansen, while Babar raised his second fifty of the day with a drive off the same bowler. Despite South Africa's frustration boiling over, including an on-field exchange between Mulder and Babar, the visitors stayed focused.

As the pitch begins to show signs of wear, Pakistan faces the challenge of narrowing the deficit while keeping their wickets intact to extend the game into Day 4 and beyond. South Africa remains eight wickets away from sealing the series.