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

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Oh no, a chance has been DROPPED by substitute Abdullah Shafique! Aiden Markram gets a massive lifeline, and his reaction says it all, A deep sigh of relief! Back of a length from Shahzad, just outside off, Aiden Markram rides the bounce nicely and thumps it straight into the hands of Abdullah Shafique at cover who spills it out trying to take it around his waist. Pakistan cannot afford these errors! Remember, Shafique is not in the playing XI. He is filling in for Saim Ayub, who was helped off the field for a hurt right anke or shin, possibly going for scans.

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Digs it in short and over middle and leg, Aiden Markram ducks underneath to let it pass. 

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, On a good length, just in and around that off-stump line, Aiden Markram taps it down the deck. 

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Full again, angling into the pads, Aiden Markram flicks it to mid on off the front foot.

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Goes fuller this time, around off and middle, seaming in, Aiden Markram comes forward and blocks it comfortably.

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Starts with a back-of-a-length ball, around off, the ball rides on the bounce, Aiden Markram presents the full face of the bat to keep it down.

Very surprised to see Pakistan not move their slip fielders around. We have seen around 3-4 edges not carrying to the slip cordon. It is not necessarily that the pitch being slow could be the reason, but it could be one of the reasons. However, the other thing is that with no Shaheen or Naseem, Pakistan are missing bowlers who can touch the 140 kmph mark. So in such cases, it is the duty of the keeper to move ahead a couple of steps. Accordingly, the slip cordon will respond.

Mir Hamza to Ryan Rickelton, Drags the length down by a bit and continues to charge at the stumps, Ryan Rickelton clips it to mid-wicket. 

Mir Hamza to Ryan Rickelton, Very full again, but down leg, Ryan Rickelton misses out on cashing in as he plays inside the line and the ball zips through to the keeper. 

Mir Hamza to Ryan Rickelton, Goes full and attacks the stumps does Hamza, Ryan Rickelton flicks it to mid on. 

Mir Hamza to Ryan Rickelton, On a good length, outside off, angling away, Ryan Rickelton takes a step forward as he is already standing ahead of the crease and blocks it to cover.

Mir Hamza to Aiden Markram, Similar length, around middle, seaming in, Aiden Markram hops up and clips it to deep fine leg for a single to get off the strike. 

Mir Hamza to Aiden Markram, First ball after the drinks! Good length, around off, from over the stumps, Aiden Markram keeps it down with ease off the front foot.

DRINKS BREAK. South Africa's hour, without a doubt. But it could have been so much different had that first ball decision been otherwise and the slip cordon had been a bit more improvising. Mohammad Abbas could have got a wicket on the very first ball of the match of Aiden Markram, but it wasn't to be. There were further chances created but the edges have been dying short of the slip cordon. South Africa have been patient, understanding that in the first hour, the new ball will do its stuff. They have curbed their strokes and kept their defense compact, playing on the merit of the balls. Markram seems to have gone into a shell but Rickelton is more than happy to open up now. This is where it gets difficult for the visitors. With only Jamal to come as a recognized frontline bowler, it might become a long day for them, if they don't find ways to pick up wickets. FINALLY, SOME REST FOR ABBAS. Here's Mir Hamza again. 3-0-17-0 so far.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Outside off, angling in a bit, off a length, Ryan Rickelton watches the ball closely and opts to let it go past at the very end. 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Hard length, on middle, Ryan Rickelton keeps it out. 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Not very convincing but that boundary brings the 50-run stand between this new opening pair! Angling into the left-hander on a length, around middle and leg, Ryan Rickelton looks to tuck it across but gets a thick outside edge that races through the gully region for another boundary. 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Gets the gap this time. He tried once in Khurram's previous over but it got stopped. A back of a length, outside off, Rickelton stays back, opens the face of his bat and guides it behind point. The ball races away. Moves to 32 (38).

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller and straighter, Ryan Rickelton pushes it towards mid on.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, On a good length, just around off, watchfully defended.

25. That's the number of overs in succession that Mohammad Abbas has bowled, adding to his 19 in the second innings of that opening Test. Remember a Test match where Sajid Khan seemed to bowl for an eternity - 28 or 30 overs at a stretch, something like that - but that was in an inning alone. Think it was against England recently.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Back of a good length, on middle and off, Aiden Markram blocks it to mid off.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Edged and falls short of slip again! That's the second time the ball hasn't carried to the slip cordon. Maybe time for them to get in a bit closer? Mohammad Abbas hits the good length, just around that corridor of uncertainly, around off. Aiden Markram looks to block it with a straight bat but gets a thick outside edge that goes on the bounce to the fielder at second slip. 

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Hits the length right, just in and around that off-stump line, Aiden Markram taps it to cover. 

Mohammad Abbas to Ryan Rickelton, A bit too straight now. Ryan Rickelton stays back and with subtle wrists, works the ball through square leg. Khurram Shahzad tracks the ball to his right from fine leg and stops it with his foot. Very, very risky. Someone please show him the Glenn McGrath video ahead of the Edgbaston Ashes Test in 2005. As they say, the rest is history. Three runs taken.

Mohammad Abbas to Ryan Rickelton, A shorter ball, punched to the off side.

Mohammad Abbas to Ryan Rickelton, On a good length, just around off, watchfully defended.

No Naseem? For those wondering as to why has Naseem Shah been rested, the word from the Pakistan camp is that he has reported some stiffness in his back. One understands that this is an important game for Pakistan - maybe not from a WTC point of view, but from a series-levelling point of view. However, one cannot also forget that the Asian giants are playing plenty of cricket in the coming days. They are scheduled to play a 2-match Test series against West Indies at home, followed by a tri-nation one-day series, believed to be a precursor to the Champions Trophy. Then, they head off to New Zealand while the ones who don't get selected will play the PSL at home. So there is just too much cricket and a massive amount of workload.

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Similar line and length and Markram offers another good block off the back foot. 

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Solid block! Coming into the batter, on a back of a good length, around middle, Aiden Markram shows full face of the bat and stabs it down the deck. 

Khurram Shahzad to Aiden Markram, Angling in, on off, on a length, Aiden Markram taps it back to the bowler. Looks very confident in the middle does Markram! 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Much straighter from Khurram, Ryan stays back and nurdles it through fine leg for a single.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Great effort. Fractionally short outside off and a touch wide as well. Guess that is the first real loose ball of the morning. Rickelton punches it through point but the fielder dives to his left and takes some pace off the shot. Keeps the batters to a couple.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, On a good length, just outside off, Ryan Rickelton stays back and defends.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Was briefly in the air, but Markram seems to have gotten it perfectly through the gap. Back of a length, outside off, Aiden Markram shifts his weight back and punches it with a slightly opened face to steer it through the gap between backward point and gully. 

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Fuller than a good length, just outside off, Aiden Markram shuffles across a bit to cover the line and blocks it back to the bowler. 

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Good length, coming into the batter, on middle and off, Aiden Markram stays rooted in the crease and punches it to mid on. 

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Tighter line but Aiden is on the walk again. Blocks it back to the bowler.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Landed just around off, Markram comes forward and confidently pushes the ball towards cover.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, On a good length, outside off, moving away slightly, Aiden Markram feels for it but misses.

It is good to see Khurram Shahzad target coming around the wicket in his first over itself. Normally, fast bowlers don't switch sides till they have got some rhythm in their bowling. Unless of course, you are Bumrah, who gets up everyday with a set rhythm in his body. The main reason why Khurram is coming around the wicket to Rickelton is because he dismissed the southpaw from that angle in both innings of the first Test. Nearly got him for the third straight time with that angle.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Edged but falls short of the fielder at second slip! On a hard length, angling in and shaping away off the deck a bit, around off, Ryan Rickelton goes after it with soft hands and gets an outside edge that falls agonizingly short of second slip. 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Similar line but the length is pushed further by a bit, outside off, Ryan Rickelton taps it in front of cover.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Nicely done! Back of a length, outside off, Ryan Rickelton hops back and waits for the ball to come to him before just pushing it past backward point for a boundary. 

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, On a good length, again wide outside off, shouldered arms to, by Ryan Rickelton.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, A touch wider outside off, left alone.

Khurram Shahzad to Ryan Rickelton, Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Abdullah Shafique is the substitute in for Saim Ayub. The latter still looks in a lot of pain and this might be really concerning. Word is going around that he might need some scans on that right shin. He is GOING OFF THE GROUND ITSELF now. Might be taken to the hospital soon. The bad thing is - he is not able to walk without support. Does not look good at all. Meanwhile, here comes the first bowling change - Khurram Shahzad.

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, Angling in, on a length, around middle and leg, Aiden Markram leans on and tucks it off his pads in front of square leg. 

Mohammad Abbas to Aiden Markram, On a length this time, outside off, Aiden Markram holds his bat high and lets it go past.