South Africa (Playing XI): Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson

Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood(c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas

There was a lot of rain last night in Centurion but the ground is not too wet at the moment. Pakistan will resume their batting soon. The live-action will start in a few minutes. Stay tuned for more updates.

It is raining at the SuperSport Park in Centurion which has delayed the start of Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test match. The ground staff is doing nothing which means there is not enough wetness and the game may start soon. However, the official confirmation will come only after the inspection by the umpires.

After a drizzle, the intensity of the rain has increased at the SuperSport Park in Centurion and the ground has been covered completely. The downpour is heavy and we may not see a single over of play in the first session.

The conditions have worsened. It is still raining and covers are still tightly attached to the ground. SuperSport Park in Centurion has the best drainage system in the country but we need rain to stop for that as well. The first session overs may be axed if conditions remain the same.

The rain halted for some time and umpires visited the pitch to have a look. Before they could take any decision, the rain started again and Super Soppers were called back.

The lunch break has been taken and the next session will start at 12:40 pm (local time). It is still raining at the SuperSport Park in Centurion and the Super Soppers are doing their job. Stay tuned for further updates.

The lunch break has ended and it is still raining at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The umpires are out with their umbrellas and super soppers are doing their job. We may see another washout on another session.

The rain has stopped and the umpires have advised the play to resume after 20 minutes. That’s the best news coming from Centurion today. The super soppers are doing their job as Pakistan batters are set to come to the crease in less than half an hour.

After the first session of Day 3 was washed out, the second session started late due to rain but Saud Shakeel quickly reacted to help his team gain lead in the match.

Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam rebuilt the innings after the play resumed late on Day 3. The visitors have taken a small but effective lead on the hosts and both set batters are trying to take their inning forward.

The partnership between Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel ended with Marco Jansen taking the former’s wicket soon after he completed his half-century. Azam departed after making 50 runs off 85 balls. Mohammad Rizwan is the new batter at the crease.

Mohammad Rizwan could not stay for long at the crease as Marco Jansen dismissed him in the 41st over. Salman Ali Agha came and was dismissed by Jansen in his next over. Pakistan lost three wickets in a span of five overs and now the onus is on Shakeel.

Aamer Jamal is the latest to fall from Pakistan’s batting line-up as they lost their seventh wicket. Saud Shakeel is going strong with the tail. Dane Paterson got his first wicket of the day. Pakistan have a lead of 118 runs.

Aamer Jamal lost his wicket just before the Tea as Pakistan are eight wickets down and are dependent on Saud Shakeel to take their total forward. Khurram Shahzad is accompanying him at the crease. The lead in the second inning has crossed the 120-run mark and the visitors are eyeing for setting a target of at least 200 runs.

Marco Jansen took no time to bundle out Pakistan’s tail after the tea break. Saud Shakeel fought hard and made a gritty knock of 84 runs. Pakistan have set a 148-run target for South Africa with more than two days of play left.

Pakistan have set a modest target of 148 runs for the hosts. South Africa, who need just one win to enter the final of the World Test Championships (WTC) will not complicate things from here. They need just 148 runs and they will become the first team to qualify for the WTC final 2025.

Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram opened the batting for South Africa while chasing a modest target of 148 runs in Centurion. Mohammad Abbas dismissed Zorzi to provide the first breakthrough to the tourists.

Khurram Shahzad dismissed Ryan Rickelton to provide the second wicket to his team. Two wickets in two overs and the hosts are under pressure now. Tristan Stubbs joined Aiden Markram at the crease.

Mohammad Abbas struck again as he dismissed Tristan Stubbs with another LBW dismissal. Temba Bavuma is the new batter at the crease. Umpire Nitin Menon asked Shan Masood if he would like to use a spinner to continue the game and he refused which led to the stumps on Day 3.

Pakistan have taken three early wickets and kept themselves in the game. They still need seven wickets with only 121 more runs in hands. Join us tomorrow which will hopefully be the last day of this Test match. Until then, goodbye and take care!