PAK 213/1 in 49 Overs (F/O, Trail by 208 Runs) Stumps | South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test 2024–25 Day 3 Highlights: South Africa Far Ahead In Match Despite Shan Masood and Babar Azam's 205-Run Opening Stand

Pakistan after failing in the first innings, have showcased great resilience in the second time around with Shan Masood and Babar Azam putting up a massive 205 runs for the first wicket. Masood is the third Pakistan captain to score a ton as an opener.  However, Pakistan are still 208 runs behind after being asked to follow on. Earlier, in the day, South Africa bundled Pakistan for 194, with only Babar Azam putting up a fight, scoring 58. 

Stumps! An entertaining Day 3 of play between South Africa and Pakistan 2nd Test 2024-25 has come to an end. Shan Masood remains unbeaten on 102, while nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad comes into the dressing room on eight. Pakistan are still 208 runs behind South Africa. 

OUT! Marco Jansen provides South Africa a crucial breakthrough in the dying moments of Day 3. Babar Azam, who until his dismissal played a chanceless knock, falls for 81, in an attempt to hit the expansive cover drive off Jansen. Babar Azam c Bedingham b Marco Jansen 81(124) 

100! Shan Masood showing his skills as a batter to his full potential. This has been a chanceless knock from the Pakistan skipper, who reached his sixth Test hundred in 159 balls, which were laced with 14 fours. Masood along with Babar Azam has added 200 runs for the first wicket and surpassed Pakistan's first innings score. 

This has been a terrific show from Pakistan's stand-in opening pair, Shan Masood and Babar Azam have are nearing the 200-run stand, while the Pakistan skipper is also nearing his nearing his sixth Test century. The former captain is also en route to his 10th Test ton, batting in the late 70s. 

This has been a historic stand for Pakistan, with Babar Azam and Shan Masood adding over 150 runs for the first wicket. This is the highest-ever opening stand for Pakistan against South Africa in Test cricket, bettering the earlier record of 139. 

FIFTY! Babar Azam looked in prime form in this Test, with a half-century in the first innings, which is followed by another one in the second.  Azam's second fifty took 73 balls, which is also the third of the ongoing SA vs PAK Test Series 2024. 

FIFTY! A brilliant half-century for the Pakistan captain Shan Masood under pressure. A harmless short ball by Kagiso Rabada and Masood hammered it away for a four. This also brought up the century partnership with Babar Azam, who is also looking in good touch. Both the openers will want to add more runs in the third session of Day 3.

At the tea on Day 3, openers Babar Azam and Shan Masood stitched an 80-run partnership and provided a solid start to Pakistan in the second innings. After getting bundled out inside 200 runs in the first innings, the openers have responded well and have scored runs on bad balls against South African bowlers. The hosts did everything to pick up at least one wicket, but the duo stood tall and took Pakistan to 80 runs without losing a wicket. An interesting session is coming up with the Proteas trying to pick wickets and Pakistan aiming to score runs.

Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Shan Masood provided a fifty-run partnership for the opening wicket in the second innings. The duo has provided a decent start and will aim to go big as the visitors are still trailing behind by more than 350 runs of South Africa's first innings total.

After getting all out for just 194 runs in the first innings, Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Babar Azam will aim for a strong start in the second innings for the visitors. The host has enforced a follow-on, and Pakistan is still 392 runs behind the first innings total of South Africa.

OUT! The young debutant Kwena Maphaka dismissed Khurram Shahzad for 14 runs after Tristan Stubbs took another brilliant catch at the backward point region. Talking about the wicket, it was a full delivery and wide on off-stump; Khurram made decent contact with the bat. However, Stubbs at the backward point region took a stunning catch with both hands. With this wicket, Pakistan was bundled out for 194 runs in their first innings. The hosts have enforced a follow-on with the visitors still trailing by 421 runs. Khurram Shahzad c Tristan Stubbs b Kwena Maphaka 14(29)

OUT! Another one bites the dust as Keshav Maharaj removed Mir Hamza for 13 runs. A brilliant catch by David Bedingham at short leg. Maharaj bowled a length delivery, and Hamza went back to work on the leg side. The ball came from the face of the bat, and Bedingham at short leg showed brilliant reflexes to take the catch. Mir Hamza c David Bedingham b Keshav Maharaj 13(13)

OUT! A brutal bouncer by the ace speedster Kagiso Rabada ended Aamir Jamal's stay at the crease as Pakistan continued to struggle in the first innings. Talking about the wicket, Rabada banged in short and generated a good bounce, just above the shoulder of the Pakistan batter. The right-handed batter decided to go for the pull shot. Jamal was late into the stroke, and the ball lobbed up in the air. David Bedingham takes an easy catch as visitors are in huge trouble. Aamir Jamal c David Bedingham b Kagiso Rabada 15(36)

OUT! Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj showcased his class with the ball as he outfoxed Salman Agha. Maharaj bowled a loopy, fullish ball that drifted in the middle towards the Pakistan batter. Salman Agha attempted to defend the ball, but it spun sharply and beat him on the outside edge. Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne collected the ball and removed the balls as Agha was caught off-guard. Salman Agha st Kyle Verreynne b Keshav Maharaj 19(22) 

Out! Another set batsman is back in the pavelion now. Mohammad Rizwan batting beautifully on 46 looked to clear the boundary with a big shot, which could have been his half-century. But he missed the length completely and the ball hit the stumps. Big wicket for South Africa as they now have two new batters in the middle now.  Mohammad Rizwan b Wiaan Mulder 46 (82)

Out! Just when the Pakistan batters looked comfortable with the uneven bounce, Babar Azam handed an easy catch behind the stumps. Kyle Verreynne took the simple catch after Azam nicked the leg-side delivery. 98-run stand breaks and Kwena Maphaka's celebration shows how important this wicket was for the Proteas. Babar Azam c Kyle Verreynne b Kwena Maphaka 58 (127) 

South Africa's lead is below 500 now with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan playing watchful innings. Babar completed his half-century while Rizwan also played aggressively. 52 runs in 13 overs have been a great performance to be honest with varying bounce in the middle.  

50 up for Babar Azam! Promoted up in the batting order, Babar Azam proved his class and completed his half-century in 112 balls. With back-to-back boundaries against Kagiso Rabada, Babar showed his capabilities against a strong blowing attack. He will look to score in a three-figures now as Rizwan and Babar are now dealing in boundaries.

A 50-run partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan is a very good sign for Pakistan at the moment after an early fall of wickets. Still a long way to go but Babar and Rizwan are playing steadily and are happy with the singles at the moment.