South Africa lose quick wickets to Pakistan as they chase modest victory target – Sports

A jittery South Africa slumped to 27-3 as poor light brought play to an early end on a rain-delayed third day, still 121 runs short of victory in the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion.

The home side are chasing a modest target of 148 after bowling Pakistan out for 237.

However, Pakistan kept their own hopes of victory alive as they took three wickets in the first nine overs of South Africa’s second innings, with Mohammad Abbas taking two wickets and Khurram Shahzad the third, as Tony de Zorzi (2), Ryan Rickleton (0 ) ) and Tristan Stubbs (1) were all caught leg before the wicket.

Aiden Markram, who top-scored for the hosts in the first innings, will resume the 22nd not out along with captain Temba Bavuma when play resumes on Sunday.

South African fast bowler Marco Jansen helped put the brakes on Pakistan’s bid for a comeback earlier in the day as the tourists were 212 for eight at tea, with just a narrow 122-run lead.

Saud Shakeel top-scored with 84 before being undone by a full toss from Jansen, but his dismissal was unfortunate in contrast to a series of unfair shots that saw his team-mates get out.

Jansen took three wickets in four overs to complete a five-wicket haul, while Denmark’s Paterson and Kagiso Rabada took a wicket each on Saturday to give the hosts the advantage after Pakistan made a positive start to today’s play.

Shakeel and Babar Azam both scored fifties to overturn a two-run deficit at the start of the game, which was delayed until after lunch due to a passing shower of rain.

Babar scored his first fifties in his last 20 Test innings in a much-needed return to form, while Shakeel continued where he left off from their last Test against England as Pakistan overtook South Africa’s 90-run first-innings lead and looked to put their hosts for a test target.

They were 153-3 and began to unsettle their hosts before a series of unfair shots saw them lose wickets and momentum.

Babar had moved quickly from 16 not out overnight to 50 but was then tempted to swing at a short and wide delivery in Jansen’s first over and caught by Corbin Bosch on the boundary.

Mohammad Rizwan then also gave away his wicket cheaply, out for three after delivering an elusive delivery down the legs that was caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, and Jansen’s third wicket of the day brought his five-for when Salman Ali Agha drove on only the third ball he faced and edged behind.

Aamer Jamal was dismissed around 10 minutes before tea for 18 when he couldn’t resist trying to pull a short delivery from Paterson and was caught by Ryan Rickelton. Naseem Shah followed without scoring, having caught Rabada at slip.

South Africa are chasing a win to secure a place in next year’s World Test Championship final, but if they fail to win, they have another opportunity in the second Test against Pakistan, which starts at Newlands in Cape Town on January 3.