Shan Masood, the Pakistan Test captain, made the record books taming by his stroke play and an unforgettable opening partnership with his predecessor Babar Azam on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa. On this memorable day in Cape Town, records were humbled, falling like a house of cards, as Babar and Shan rekindled aspirations for Pakistan under extremely dire situations. South Africa had incurred a terrible first-innings defeat in pursuit of 615 and decided to impose a follow-on. The Proteas became the first country to impose a follow-on twice in this World Test Championship(WTC) cycle.
Prior to this, South Africa enforced it against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
The results of the verdict South Africa was expecting quite good were, however, on the contrary. Shan and Babar dared the odds and redefined batting art on a placid Newlands surface.
That was a batting masterclass from the left-right duo, making a lost cause worth fighting for Pakistan. They scripted together a record 205 runs partnership for any opening pair in a follow-on situation.
Babar fell on 81, leaving Shan unbeaten on 102 at close, making him the first Pakistan captain to score a Test century in South Africa.
Before Shan, Salim Malik scored 99 at Johannesburg in 1995. Another Pakistan batting giant, Inzamam-ul-Haq, was stuck on 92 when he batted at number eight in Gqeberha in 2007.
Babar is scoring fifties after hitting rhythm in Test cricket in South Africa. In his second inning in Centurion, Babar’s fifty was followed by two more consecutive innings fifties.
This was actually the first occasion in his profession that Babar generated three consecutive fifties without converting any of those into a century.
He was the youngest debutant, at 18 years 272 days, for South Africa. On Day 3, he became the youngest South African to take a wicket in cricket at Test level.
