South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test, Day 4 Live Score

However, this is the danger period for Masood. Not the break or anything. His score. Out of 75 innings, 25 times he has been dismissed in the score between 15 and 49 - that means, for nearly a third of his Test career, he has been dismissed after getting a start, seeing off the tough period. He is on 37 now and can not get a better opportunity to play a big knock. Babar at the other end, will be eyeing to get back to his run-scoring ways, the old Babar Azam, who was once considered a part of the Fab Five.

Having been bowled out in 9.2 overs post Lunch, Pakistan had their backs to the wall. They had a mountain to scale, having to score a MINIMUM of 421, if they needed to have a fourth innings in this match. But Shan Masood and Babar Azam came out like it was just another day, not thinking about the deficit at all. They played the balls on their merit and have been so fluent, that they were actually going at more than 5 an over for a majority of this session. Babar continued his glorious touch he had found in the morning, while Masood will be happy that he is in a position to lay some sort of a foundation for his middle order.

So Pakistan play like a Pakistan. This is the same Pakistan which made batting look difficult in the morning and now, is the same Pakistan which has worked extremely hard against some indifferent bounce to have a wicketless session! Fabulous job by the new opening pair.

Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, Around middle and off, watchfully defended. TEA ON DAY 3, PAKISTAN ARE 80/0, TRAILING BY 341!

Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, Full and outside off, BA flicks it through mid on and Masood wants a single. But short mid-wicket quickly gets across to his left and Babar yells a loud no, sending Masood back. Anything behind the non-striker has to be the striker's call.

Aiden Markram to Shan Masood, Full and down the leg side, Shan Masood helps it towards fine leg for a run. The stand is worth 80 now.

Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, On middle and off, Azam leans and punches it towards long on for a single.

Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, Full and around middle, Babar works it towards short leg.

Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, FOUR! Aiden Markram is into the attack now and he starts off with a freebie. Floated, outside off, Babar Azam leans into the shot and drives it gloriously through the covers.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Oh ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. Kyle Verreynne, you are so, so naughty. Maharaj drops it short and Masood works it through the leg side. But it is stopped by David Bedingham at short leg, though not in a manner he would have wanted. He misses the ball and it goes on to hit him right on the box. Verreynne, the keeper, collects the ball after it deflects away but just cannot stop laughing, that too, on Bedingham's face. Only the one who is hit, understands the pain.

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Outside off, Babar leans and drives it through the covers for a single, which is fielded by, shall we name him as the one who must not be named? 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, On middle and leg, Babar Azam works this through square leg for a couple. The deficit is now 348.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, A touch short, on middle and leg, Shan Masood helps it to the man who seems omnipersent now at deep mid-wicket. Tristan Stubbs. A single taken.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Fuller, around middle, well kept out.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Around middle and leg, defended watchfully.

For the last 10 minutes or so, the crowd has been going bonker every time Tristan Stubbs has been fielding the ball. We initially thought that they must be loving him and probably some of his antics near the boundary, but actually no. Mike Haysman on air informs us that a few minutes back, there was a girl with a poster, which appeared on the giant screen. The wordings were in Afrikaan, which according to Haysman, read, 'Stubbs, your zero can become a 100, if you have me in your domain'. The crowd loved that caption and seems like Stubbs liked it too. Ever since, he has been busy at the boundary, signing caps, bats, shirts and what not! That too, without complaining and also taking time to field the ball!

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Around off, Shan taps it to the off side and scampers through.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, FOUR BYES! Another misdirected ball from Maphaka. He is getting his lengths okay but is struggling big time with his line. He goes for the yorker, but it is down the leg side. Masood looks to flick but misses. The ball hits one of the footholes and then spears violently past the diving keeper, to his right, to the fine leg fence.

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, And again! On middle, Babar Azam works it through mid-wicket where Stubbs stops it again. Another run.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Outside off, on a length, Masood punches it through point and guess who is the fielder - Tristan Stubbs! Another deafening roar! And dear me, it is Aiden Markram who cannot stop his smile. Single taken.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Another one down the leg side, this time Shan Masood misses his flick. The keeper, Kyle Verreynne collects and gets the crowd excited by mocking a catch celebration.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, On a good length, around off, watchfully defended.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Drops it short again, around middle and leg, from over the wicket, turning in, Shan Masood nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a single. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Drags his length, outside off, Babar Azam rocks back and cuts it wide of point for a single. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Slower through the air, full around middle, Babar Azam defends it off the front foot. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Pushes this one through quicker and fuller, on middle, Babar defends.

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Full and at the stumps, blocked confidently off the front foot. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Looped up, on off, Babar Azam lunges and pushes it out.

The last time openers for Pakistan added 50 or more in a partnership in a Test inning, was way back in December, 2023, between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, against Australia in Perth. Since then, they have had 17 innings prior to this one, with only 4 of those crossing 30.  They were losing a wicket roughly every 12-13 runs in this period for the opening wicket.

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, Back of a length, outside off, going away, Babar Azam goes deep in the crease and steers it wide of cover for a single to end the over. 

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, On a good length, outside off, going away, Shan Masood cuts it to deep point for a single. There is some cheer for Tristan Stubbs as the reason is some poster of a girl. 

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, A wayward ball down the leg side, on a full length, Shan Masood watches it go through to the keeper who dives to his right and takes it. 

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Hard length, just outside off, Shan Masood blocks it back to the bowler.

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, Back of a length, on middle, Babar Azam hops towards the leg side and works it in front of cover for one.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Angling in, on a length, around leg, Shan Masood looks to tuck it across but misses. The ball clips his thigh pad and dribbles down to fine leg. A leg bye taken.

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Tossed up, around middle, angling in, Babar Azam takes out his front foot and blocks it with ease. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Full again, around middle, with angle, Babar Azam comes forward and flicks it wide of mid on. The ball goes in the gap and Marco Jansen gives it a chase. They take a couple of runs. 

Keshav Maharaj to Babar Azam, Comes around the wicket, flighted full, around middle, Babar Azam defends it off the front foot. 

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Drags the length short and on middle and leg, Shan turns it behind square on the leg side for one.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Missed out on an opportunity to make the most of this full toss, Shan Masood! Drills it straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. 

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Seems like Keshav Maharaj was eager to do something more in this match. Gets the ball in his hand. Starts from over the wicket and goes full, just outside off, Shan Masood takes a step out and pushes it down the deck.

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, Good length, around middle and off, Babar Azam defends it off the back foot to end the over. 

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, A yorker wide outside off, goes away with the angle, Babar Azam can't dig it out and misses it. Kyle Verreynne dives to his right and takes it. 

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, Back of a length, around middle, from over the wicket, Babar Azam tucks it right to the pitch and wants a quick single but is sent back by Shan. 

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, A genuine loosener from Kwena Maphaka! Wayward outside off, full and angling away from the batter. Left alone by Babar.

Kwena Maphaka to Babar Azam, FOUR! All class from Babar! A bit too full from the debutant, just around off, and Babar leans on and creams his drive through covers. Glorious to watch! 

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Starts from over the wickets and hits the deck on a short of a length, outside off, Shan Masood gets on top of his toes and dabs it past slip. Marco Jansen gives the ball a chase and mops it up for three runs. 50 up for Pakistan! Promising start.

Will we see a double change? Yes. The debutant, Kwena Maphaka, has been given a burst before Tea. Picked up 2 in his first dig.

Wiaan Mulder to Shan Masood, Slightly short, outside off, going away from the batter, Shan Masood opens the bat off the back foot and guides it wide of point for a single to retain the strike. 

Wiaan Mulder to Shan Masood, Back of a length, around middle, shaping in, from around the wicket, Shan Masood tucks it to mid-wicket.