Day 3 Highlights: Tension and Resilience in South Africa vs Pakistan Test
On the third day of the New Year’s Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town, tempers flared during a tense moment on the field. The incident unfolded when South African bowler Wiaan Mulder aggressively threw the ball towards Pakistani captain Babar Azam, striking him on the pads. This occurred as Pakistan batted in their second innings after being forced to follow on.
Babar had just hit a gentle drive back towards Mulder, who caught the ball before throwing it back with a noticeable lack of care, missing the stumps by a good distance. Babar, standing just outside the crease, was clearly irritated by the unnecessary throw.
Tensions escalated further when South Africa’s wicketkeeper attempted a playful run-out while Babar was stepping out of his crease to respond to Mulder’s actions. The situation prompted the umpires to intervene and restore calm among the players on the field. Teammates Aiden Markram and Shan Masood stepped in to talk to Babar, trying to ease the situation.
Game Updates: Pakistan Finds Its Footing
Despite the drama, Pakistan demonstrated remarkable resilience on Day 3, particularly through the impressive opening partnership between Masood and Babar. Following a disappointing first innings, where they were bowled out for just 194 runs, Pakistan bounced back with a record-setting 205-run partnership, the highest ever for the team when following on in Test matches.
Beginning the day at 64 for 3, Pakistan faced a challenging task against South Africa’s strong bowling lineup. Babar and Mohammad Rizwan provided crucial runs but both fell just short of reaching half-centuries. The lower order struggled as Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj combined to take eight wickets, giving South Africa a commanding 421-run lead.
In their second innings, Masood and Babar countered South Africa’s bowlers with determination. Masood, breaking a recent slump, scored his sixth Test century, while Babar contributed a solid 81 runs. Their partnership frustrated the South African bowlers, who were not as disciplined as needed, with 23 no-balls being delivered throughout the match.
As South Africa enforced the follow-on, they were aiming for a quick victory, but Pakistan’s spirited performance left them trailing by 208 runs by the close of play. With Masood remaining unbeaten on 102, the visitors still had a slim chance to make an impact as the match approached its final two days—setting the stage for an exciting finish.
