South Africa 301 and 27 for 3 (Markram 22*, Abbas 2-3) need another 121 runs to win Pakistan 211 and 237 (Shakeel 84, Babar 50, Jansen 6-52, Rabada 2-68)
The first Test match at Centurion is tantalizingly set after Pakistan took three wickets in nine overs to leave South Africa reeling at 27 for 3, still 121 runs away from the 147-run target that seals a win as well as a place in the 2023. -25 World Test Championship [WTC] end.
Pakistan’s review was chalk and cheese from previous innings, successfully nullifying two lbw calls. Shahzad found a similar seam move around the wicket to hit Ryan Rickleton on the front pad, so viciously that he hit it in line even though the batsman had moved well.
After successfully reversing it, Pakistan repeated the formula, with Abbas finding the right line and the right lateral movement, which has allowed him to find spells of great success. Tristan Stubbs took a step outside his area but was beaten on the outside edge, and once again Pakistan collectively came close only to be denied by the referee. But Shan Masood signaled to go up the stairs once more and was again proven right.
Persistent rain saw play begin an hour after the lunch break concluded, and Pakistan began by taking advantage of a bowling effort that was nowhere near their best. Shakeel and Babar each worked Kagiso Rabada for four in the third over, and the runs flowed for the next half hour. Twenty-three runs emerged from the next three, and although Babar still found himself beaten at times, he was also finding the opportune moment which in the past was often a precursor to a big score.
Corbin Bosch found out when he missed his line twice and Babar served two fours, before a clip in the sheets brought up his long-awaited half-century, his first in 20 innings. But he squandered it in disappointing fashion, failing to overcome a short, deflected shot from Jansen, and Bosch barely had to move to send a devastated Babar on his way.
Jansen was finding the wickets that escaped him in the first innings, with Rizwan and Salman Agha falling cheaply. A brief tussle between Shakeel and Aamer Jamal once again gave the impression that Pakistan would go into tea six down, before Jamal bowled a tame Dane Paterson bouncer straight to deep midwicket, and Naseem Shah kindly tucked in Rabada in slips.
Shakeel attempted to cultivate the strike after tea and would enjoy some success as wayward bowling enabled odd boundaries and comfortable late singles. The highlight was a majestic pickup of six over midwicket, but Pakistan’s penchant for giving away wickets to deliveries that didn’t deserve them struck again when a knee-high full toss struck Shakeel’s front pad and effectively concluded the batting effort. from Pakistan.
It seemed to be the final nail in the coffin, but Pakistan’s players have ensured that South Africa does not rest easy overnight.
Danyal Rasool is Pakistan correspondent for ESPNcricinfo. @danny61000
