SA vs PAK 2024/25, SA vs PAK 2nd Test Match Report, January 03 – 07, 2025

Pakistan 194 (Babar 58, Rabada 3-55, Maharaj 2-14) and 213 for 1 (f/o) (Masood 102*, Babar 81) path South Africa 615 by 208 runs

South Africa’s 5 frontline bowlers have been made to toil on a floor that continues to be good for batting regardless of displaying indicators of flip. Additionally they bowled 23 no-balls throughout the 2 innings to this point – 10 within the ongoing second innings alone – and shall be upset with their ill-discipline. Their solely second innings success got here late within the day when Babar chased a full, extensive ball from Marco Jansen and edged to slide. Nightwatcher Khurram Shahzad accompanied Masood to the top of the day.

After dismissing Pakistan for 194 halfway by means of the afternoon session, South Africa enforced the follow-on with an eye fixed on wrapping issues up early. However Kagiso Rabada and Jansen each erred on the facet of too full and solely created one probability between them. Rabada discovered Masood’s edge, with the Pakistan captain on 18 however the ball flew by means of the vacant third slip area, leaving Rabada on his haunches.

The change bowlers, Wiaan Mulder and Kwena Maphaka, barely threatened and Pakistan went to tea on 80 with out loss. Rabada and Keshav Maharaj resumed for the night session and whereas Rabada tried a short-ball tactic, Maharaj discovered flip however Pakistan performed them each properly. Masood’s fifty got here when he pulled Rabada by means of mid-wicket and Babar’s got here up with a drive off Jansen. It was the second time within the day that Babar raised his bat to a half-century after additionally attending to the milestone within the first innings, and his third successive fifty on this tour.

As each settled in, South Africa’s frustration boiled over and Mulder flung the ball again at Babar as he stepped out of his crease to defend. He hit Babar on the shin and phrases have been exchanged earlier than Umpire Dharmasena stepped in to chill issues down. The one different little bit of drama got here when Rabada was satisfied he had Masood lbw when he hit him on the knee roll and South Africa have been contemplating a evaluation however Rabada had overstepped.

Masood obtained to his century with a flick off Jansen and celebrated with a look skywards. Babar appeared set to observe him however slashed at a slower Jansen ball and edged to Bedingham at slip, to offer him his fifth catch of the day. Although Babar fell in need of a century, he scored 108 runs within the day – 27 in a single day and 81 within the second innings.

Pakistan resumed 64 for 3 below some cloud and located the early exchanges challenged. Rabada beat the beat, Jansen discovered additional bounce and although each made issues tough for Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, they have been unable to take away them. Jansen hit Rizwan on the collar bone within the first 45 minutes as Rizwan tried a one-armed pull however he recovered to hit Jansen for 4 and 6 in the identical over.

Babar introduced up the Pakistan hundred with an edge by means of the slips and his fifty off the subsequent ball when he chopped Rabada over level. However when debutant Kwena Maphaka angled one down leg, Babar adopted it in an try to flick it off his hips and edged to Kyle Verreynne. A joyous Maphaka took off Imran Tahir-style to deep third together with his team-mates following in celebration. This was the third time since 2022 that Babar has been strangled down leg, the joint-most by a Pakistan batter in that point.

The Babar-Rizwan partnership was damaged on 98, with accountability falling to Rizwan to maintain chipping away. Towards the run of play, Rizwan superior on Mulder and tried to smash him down the bottom to achieve his fifty, however under-edged onto his stumps. After which Salman Agha, who had lamented the shortage of flip when he was bowling, was drawn ahead by a Maharaj supply that turned previous the surface edge and was stumped.

Pakistan misplaced 6 for 76 both facet of lunch, most of them to free pictures. Aamer Jamal was bounced out by Rabada when he couldn’t resist a swivel pull and Khurram Shahzad couldn’t maintain a sq. drive down. It is probably not as much as these two to have achieved the work however, after the way in which Pakistan batted within the second innings, they might look again at their shot choice within the first with some remorse, particularly on this floor.