1st Test
Day-3 Evening Session Highlights:
Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad has kept the Pakistan’s hopes intact
At The Stumps of Day-3:
Pakistan scored 211 (1st Innings) & 237 (2nd Innings), where as South Africa scored 301 (1st Innings) & 27/3 (2nd Innings).
So, finally Pakistan lead by 122 runs.
Pakistan struck thrice late on Day 3 to leave the first Test in the balance heading into Day 4 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad dominated with the ball, repeatedly beating the bat before claiming all three key wickets in identical fashion – LBW.
At Stumps, South Africa were 27 for 3, needing another 121 runs with seven wickets in hand to secure a spot in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June.
Earlier, Marco Jansen’s six-wicket haul (6-52) sparked a Pakistan collapse from 153 for 3 to 237 all-out.
Saud Shakeel top-scored with 84, and Babar Azam contributed 50, his first half-century since 2023.
After Tea, South Africa quickly wrapped up Pakistan’s resistance within eight overs.
Shakeel managed some quick runs, including three fours and a six, before he was dismissed LBW by Jansen.
Corbin Bosch claimed the last wicket, dismissing Mohammad Abbas as the hosts were set a target of 148 to chase.
During the nine overs faced by South Africa, Aiden Markram began with a lucky boundary, but Shahzad found his rhythm and bowled some beautiful deliveries.
Abbas, from the other end, got a low ball to dismiss Tony de Zorzi LBW.
Shahzad then dismissed Ryan Rickelton for a duck, while Abbas sent Tristan Stubbs packing LBW for just one.
Both Rickelton and Stubbs were initially given not out, but Pakistan’s use of DRS was impeccable, successfully overturning both decisions.
Markram hit two more boundaries before bad light ended play.
Earlier, following a rain-affected first session, Shakeel and Azam started positively, finding boundaries with ease and quickly establishing a 50-run lead.
Azam reached his first half-century in a year but fell shortly after, edging a loose delivery from Jansen to deep point.
The second session saw Pakistan lose five wickets, including Rizwan for three and Agha for a nick behind.
Shakeel and Aamer Jamal briefly resisted, adding 32 runs, but Jamal was dismissed for a pull shot caught at deep mid-wicket.
Rabada then dismissed Naseem Shah as Pakistan’s innings fell apart.
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