Masood Remains Steadfast After Two South African Strikes

Pakistan continued their fightback on Day 4 of the Test match against South Africa at Newlands, reaching 312/3 at Lunch. With Shan Masood anchoring the innings and edging closer to a monumental 150, the visitors reduced the deficit to 109 runs.

Despite losing two wickets, Pakistan added 99 runs in the session, scoring at an impressive rate of over 3.5 runs per over. For those interested in sports, checking a reliable platform like a Betpro account could enhance the excitement of following such matches.

Nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad's Early Contribution

Starting the day with nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad at the crease, Pakistan resumed their innings confidently. Shahzad, who successfully guided Pakistan to stumps on Day 3, showcased his attacking intent with a couple of early boundaries.

Meanwhile, Shan Masood, already a centurion, adopted a cautious approach initially but regained his rhythm with the pull shot, which had been a cornerstone of his innings.

However, Marco Jansen broke the partnership by dismissing Shahzad, who was lured into playing a tentative shot to point. Jansen nearly struck again in the same over when Kamran Ghulam edged to first slip, but David Bedingham dropped a straightforward chance, allowing the ball to race to the boundary.

Shan Masood and Kamran Ghulam Weather the Storm

Masood survived a close LBW appeal off Jansen, with the ball narrowly missing the leg stump. At the other end, Kamran Ghulam faced a challenging spell from Kagiso Rabada. Rabada's precise lines and movement troubled Ghulam, but the batter countered with exquisite boundaries through the offside.

The battle culminated in a spectacular piece of bowling from Rabada, who delivered a fuller delivery that nipped back and shattered Ghulam's stumps. This dismissal marked Rabada's 50th Test wicket at Newlands, highlighting his mastery as a pace bowler.

Saud Shakeel and Masood Steady the Ship

Following Ghulam's dismissal, Saud Shakeel joined Masood in the middle. The pair navigated the remaining session with composure. South Africa turned to part-time bowler Aiden Markram, but his over-pitched deliveries posed little threat to the Pakistani batters.

Towards the end of the session, debutant Kwena Maphaka nearly dismissed Shakeel. Maphaka's delivery struck Shakeel on the pads, and while the on-field umpire ruled in the batter's favor, ball-tracking later revealed that the ball would have hit the leg stump. South Africa's decision not to review cost them a crucial breakthrough before Lunch.

South Africa's Bowling Highlights

South Africa's bowling attack showcased moments of brilliance throughout the session. Marco Jansen continued to extract extra bounce from the pitch, unsettling the batters, while Kagiso Rabada's relentless accuracy proved instrumental in breaking partnerships. However, the dropped catch and missed review were significant setbacks for the hosts.

Brief Scores

• South Africa: 615 (Ryan Rickelton 259, Temba Bavuma 106, Kyle Verreynne 100; Mohammad Abbas 3-94, Salman Ali Agha 3-148)

• Pakistan: 194 (Babar Azam 58, Mohammad Rizwan 46; Kagiso Rabada 3-55, Keshav Maharaj 2-14) & 312/3 (Shan Masood 137*, Babar Azam 81; Marco Jansen 2-74)

To read more blog, South Africa Completes The Sweep With a 10-Wicket Victory

Looking Ahead

As Pakistan inches closer to South Africa's lead, the outcome of this Test remains uncertain. The afternoon session will be critical as Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel aim to narrow the gap further. At the same time, South Africa will look to capitalize on their opportunities and seal the advantage.