In what turned out to be a dramatic finish to the day, Pakistan held on dearly, and extended their lead to 40, forcing the game into a fourth day in Newlands. South Africa thought they had Pakistan bowled out; so much so, Quinton de Kock was off the ground halfway into the dressing room, before being called back on as a no-ball was called. Eventually, Pakistan were bowled out for 294, leaving South Africa with 41 to win on the fourth day after the umpires decided not to have an extended session.
It were sessions of contrasts for Pakistan. The second session saw Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq stage a brave fightback that fetched Pakistan 140 runs at a run-rate of over five. The pair was clinical, seeing off the tough period early on despite having lost two quick wickets, and then consolidating bringing South Africa’s lead down to just 77, despite losing Masood on the brink of Tea. In the third, they lost wickets in clumps with only Babar Azam keeping South Africa at bay. He got to a half-century in just 55 balls to keep eating into South Africa’s lead and keep Pakistan in the game whilst running out of partners at the other end. He was eventually sent back for an 87-ball 72 after taking Pakistan into the lead, but one that promised to be worth much more at the tea break.
On the brink of Tea, Dale Steyn, who finished with four wickets, got a hint of movement that forced out an edge off Masood breaking a stand worth 132. Steyn had set him up perfectly for the wicket. He persisted on the fourth-fifth-stump line and forced the batsman to come forward. But he only ended up getting the edge, as Masood made his way back for 61. Shafiq, however, remained unbeaten on 73, getting to a half-century off just 56 balls. He fell soon after the break for 88, rewarding Vernon Philander for some persistent bowling, edging to the wicketkeeper. Thereafter, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah in quick succession as Rabada too finished with four. Babar kept South Africa at bay, but only just about.
The century stand earlier was Pakistan’s highest partnership this series. Masood, already under pressure coming into the series, batted exceedingly well. He showcased great discipline and his patience and resilience wore down South Africa’s bowlers as he played sheet anchor which gave Shafiq the license to attack, with the stand a prime example of attack and defence to perfection with the South African four-pace attack out of ideas to dislodge the pair until Steyn struck.
The closest that South Africa came to picking up a wicket before that was Philander’s trapping Masood leg-before that was adjudged out earlier in the session. However, a review from Pakistan found that the ball was going well down leg and missing, which gave him a life, after Philander had changed his angle by bowling round the wicket, as Steyn had earlier when he accounted for Imam ul Haq.
In the opening session, Pakistan took a little less than ten overs to wrap up South Africa’s tail that let loose and added 49 runs to their overnight lead of 205 before being bowled out for 431. Pakistan lost two wickets for 37 before Lunch with the pitch spitting venom early. Mohammad Amir rattled the the stumps, twice, picking up three of South Africa’s remaining four wickets, to finish with a four-wicket haul along with Shaheen Afridi, who had four himself. De Kock couldn’t consolidate on his quickfire half-century, but cameos from the tail trio of Rabada, Styen and Duanne Olivier, which had the ball cross the boundary line a fair few times added handy runs to South Africa’s lead with them scoring at almost a run a ball.
South Africa got off to a great start, with their pacers posing questions to Pakistan’s batsmen. They copped a few body blows as well in the bargain. Steyn provided them with an early breakthrough, striking in his second over, after changing the angle to Haq, prompting the left-hander to edge a full and wide one to Dean Elgar at slip. He should’ve left it alone, but the lack of it had Pakistan on the backfoot. Runs didn’t come easy in the first session, with South African bowlers right on the money, much in contrast to how they flowed in the second. South African bowlers bounced back well in the final one to leave their batsmen with an easy task on day 4.
Brief scores: Pakistan 177 & 294 (Shan Masood 61, Asad Shafiq 88, Babar Azam 74; Dale Steyn 4-85, Kagiso Rabada 4-61) lead South Africa 413 (Faf du Plessis 103, Temba Bavuma 75, Quinton de Kock 59; Mohammad Amir 4-88, Shaheen Afridi 4-123) by 40 runs.
