So, from a possible Day 3 finish, we head towards an highly anticipated Day 4. Pakistan are still 208 runs behind but this batting display in the second innings gives them and the viewers confidence that maybe, they could avoid an innings defeat and give South Africa something competitive to chase. But for that to happen, the visitors need to bat the whole of Day 4. South Africa will definitely be aiming to come back pretty hard and improve their lines and lengths and finish this off in two sessions. Will we have a Day 5? To find out the answer, you will have to join us as we take you through this journey. The first ball on Monday, 6th January, 2025 will be bowled at 8.30 am GMT but our buildup will begin much sooner. So do join us early. And you can also catch the action from the final day of the second Zimbabwe-Afghanistan Test. Enjoy. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Good bowling attack, yes. But did they bowl well? Not quite. The new-ball bowlers sprayed the ball around and then when the ball stopped moving after the first 5-odd overs, they got frustrated and let it get the better of them. That frustration turned into desperation as they resolved to sledging the opposition to try and earn a wicket but nothing helped. Add to it, their continuous array of no balls would have given headaches to the bowling coach and he has his task cut out for Monday, in the nets. As many as 13 no balls were bowled in the first innings and we have already seen 10 in this innings alone. Make that 23 in roughly 103 overs, means one nearly every 4 overs. Only Keshav Maharaj seemed to assert some control as he was getting nice purchase out of the rough created by the footmarks of the faster bowlers.

Guess Pakistan themselves won’t have an answer if someone asks them about the pitch getting better to bat or not. The deck has stayed the same throughout the day, but it is amazing to see what can mental resolve do. Skipper Shan Masood and Babar Azam, coming out to bat for the second time in this Test, having a mountain to climb, just put their head down and batted. They were helped with a few freebies by the South African seamers but they did not waste their start. Both made their starts count, adding a massive 205 for the opening wicket, giving immense confidence to the dressing room. Babar continued his form from the first innings, getting his second half century in the match, but just towards the closing stages of the day, lost his concentration and his wicket for 81.

Talking about Shan Masood, he has definitely led from the front. Wonderful to see a player execute an array of strokes when in form. Against the new ball, Masood drove to his heart’s content and then, when the ball got older and the lengths got shortened, he resorted to pulling the balls. He is unbeaten on 102 and thanks to 14 boundaries, he is batting at a strike rate of 61, which is pretty decent in this format of the game. Pakistan themselves are going along at more than 4 runs per over, something which is commendable against a pretty good bowling attack.

Guess Pakistan themselves won’t have an answer if someone asks them about the pitch getting batter to bat or not. The deck has stayed the same throughout the day, but it is amazing to see what can mental resolve do. Skipper Shan Masood and Babar Azam, coming out to bat for the second time in this Test, having a mountain to climb, just put their head down and batted. They were helped with a few freebies by the South African seamers but they did not waste their start. Both made their starts count, adding a massive 205 for the opening wicket, giving immense confidence to the dressing room. Babar continued his form from the first innings, getting his second half century in the match, but just towards the closing stages of the day, lost his concentration and his wicket for 81.

A nervy end to the day but what a day of Test match cricket for Pakistan. We have seen two sides of the same team on Sunday. They had a torrid first half of the day, losing their way completely from a decent position, and having the followon enforced. But in reply, barring that last 15 minutes of the day, they have ended Day 3 pretty strongly.

A nervy end to the day but what a day of Test match cricket for Pakistan.

48.6 – Oh dear, that goes past the edge and the off stump! End of an incredible day as STUMPS have been called on DAY 3 with Pakistan at 213/1 trailing by 208 more runs.

Batsman_1 : Khurram Shahzad 8(14)

Batsman_2 : Shan Masood 102(166)

Bowler : Marco Jansen 1/56(10)

Over : 49

Run : 6

Wicket : 0

Score : 213/1

48.5 – Very full, at the stumps, Khurram Shahzad blocks it out.

48.4 – FOUR! Amidst all the chaos, Khurram Shahzad gets one through the gap for a boundary. On a length, outside off, Shahzad pokes his bat at it with a slightly angled face. Gets a thick outside edge that splits the slip cordon to go past second slip to his right and finds the fence.

48.3 – Close to the outside edge! Shahzad is probably expecting a short ball and hence is way behind in the crease.

48.2 – Outside off, Khurram makes a Marnus Labuschagne type of leave. For those not aware, Labuschagne gets his bat down to play a shot but then, at the last moment, takes it away.

Last over of the day? Possibly. Especially with Marco Jansen to bowl. Only 3 minutes left. Can South Africa get one more wicket?

48.1 – On a good length, outside off, Khurram Shahzad comes forward to defend. But the ball rises suddenly and takes him by surprise. He does well to fend it to the right of short leg and there is no one at fine leg. Masood sees that and calls him through, confident that they will get two and they do.

47.6 – Full, on middle and leg, Shahzad tucks it to square leg and takes a single.

Batsman_1 : Khurram Shahzad 2(8)

Batsman_2 : Shan Masood 102(166)

Bowler : Keshav Maharaj 0/36(15)

Over : 48

Run : 1

Wicket : 0

Score : 207/1

47.5 – So nearly sneaked through. Full and on off, Khurram Shahzad plays it with a straight bat and just about manages to squeeze it out off the inner half of the bat.

47.4 – Looped up full and on off, Khurram Shahzad taps it out to silly point.

So we will have a Day 5 in the second Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Bulawayo. The visitors had taken the extra half hour, but suddenly the skies became gloomy and with thunder and lightning in the vicinity, safety of the players became paramount. Zimbabwe end the day on 205/8 and they need another 73 for a memorable win. Craig Ervine, the skipper, is leading from the front, with a valiant 53, but from where can he find support? Only Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani left for the hosts. Probably they need to go to the dressing room and check for the video of the final day of the 2005 Ashes Test in Edgbaston. Except the end, of course, considering that they are the batting team.

47.3 – Down the leg side, Shahzad stutters a bit but manages to play it down in front of short leg.

47.2 – The arm ball, outside off, pushed towards point.

47.1 – Fuller, around off, watchfully defended.

So we will have a Day 5 in the second Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Bulawayo.

46.6 – Good length, over middle, Shan Masood dabs it down the deck.

Batsman_1 : Shan Masood 102(166)

Batsman_2 : Khurram Shahzad 1(2)

Bowler : Marco Jansen 1/50(9)

Over : 47

Run : 1

Wicket : 1

Score : 206/1

46.5 – Just got carried away a bit too much did Jansen. Puts extra effort on this ball and fires it full but way down leg. Kyle Verreynne does well to dive to that side and make a stop.

46.4 – Full and on the pads, Khurram Shahzad chips it to the right of mid on for a single and gets off the mark.

46.3 – Very full, but a bit wide outside off, Khurram Shahzad gets across and shoulders arms.

46.2 – OUT! CAUGHT! At long last, South Africa get their 10th wicket of this match! Just when it seemed like Pakistan were well on course to end the day without losing any wicket in the second innings, Babar Azam loses his concentration. Was the carrot of a possible century dangling in front of his eyes? Marco Jansen came from around the wicket and bowed it on a length, a bit wide outside off. Could have been left alone, but Babar went for a big booming drive. Got a thick outside edge which went quickly behind. David Bedingham, who has been exceptional on the field, took a sharp catch at gully. The crowd finds its voice. Azam cannot believe what has happened. Starts trudging off now, for a wonderful 81, but he knows, he could have got more. PAKISTAN are 205/1 and trail by 216 runs. Maybe, there was some extra bounce in that dismissal as well, but it could have definitely been left alone.

Nightwatchman time? Just 13 minutes left in the day’s play. Indeed. Khurram Shahzad walks in at number 3, replacing Babar Azam.

It is now getting a bit ridiculous from a South African point of view. It is almost like whenever a bowler returns for a new spell, barring Keshav Maharaj, everyone else is bowling at least one no ball in the returning over. The no ball count has gone upto 10 now, with every seamer barring Kwena Maphaka bowling a no ball at least. This is to go with 11 in the first innings. So 21 in total already.

46.2 – OUT! CAUGHT! At long last, South Africa get their 10th wicket of this match!

Nightwatchman time? Just 13 minutes left in the day’s play.

46.1 – Landed around middle and off, punched back to the bowler.

45.6 – Floated full, on middle, Shan turns it to square leg.

Batsman_1 : Shan Masood 102(164)

Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 81(122)

Bowler : Keshav Maharaj 0/35(14)

Over : 46

Run : 1

Wicket : 0

Score : 205/0

45.3 – Slower through the air, outside off, lands and turns in sharply, along with extra bounce. Masood adjusts well to play it down in front of short leg.

45.2 – A bit quicker, around off, Shan Masood goes back and works it on the bounce to David Bedingham at short leg.

45.1 – Landed outside off, little bit of turn, Babar Azam reaches out and drives it through the covers for a single.