On the third day of the second Test match in Cape Town, Pakistan’s cricket team faced challenges against South Africa. They reached 155 runs for 6 wickets by lunchtime, still trailing South Africa by 460 runs.
A significant moment was when 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka, South Africa’s youngest Test player, took the important wicket of Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam. Babar scored 58 runs before being caught down the leg side.
Earlier, Babar and Mohammad Rizwan formed a partnership, adding 98 runs for the fourth wicket. Rizwan contributed 46 runs but was dismissed after attempting an aggressive shot.
Pakistan’s situation was further complicated as opener Saim Ayub was unable to bat due to a fractured right ankle sustained on the first day. This effectively left Pakistan with one less batsman.
At the break, Aamer Jamal remained not out with 5 runs, and Khurram Shahzad had yet to score. Pakistan needed an additional 261 runs to avoid the follow-on, facing a challenging task ahead.
South Africa’s bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, maintained pressure throughout the session, making it difficult for Pakistan to close the significant run gap.
As the match progresses, Pakistan will need a strong batting performance to reduce the deficit and avoid the follow-on, while South Africa aims to capitalize on their advantageous position.
