Pakistan requires further 228 runs with seven wickets in hand in third Test to survive second consecutive whitewash in South Africa.
Last time Pakistan suffered a whitewash against South Africa in a three-match Test series in February 2013.
When the third Day ended on Sunday evening at Johannesburg, Pakistan was on 153 for three. Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam were unbeaten on 48 and 17 respectively.
Pakistan’s first 50 runs opening partnership in South Africa for 16 years! The previous one was 20 innings ago between Saleem Elahi and Taufeeq Umar in year 2002. #RSAvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 13, 2019
Earlier, Imam Ul Haq and Shan Masood built a 67-run opening partnership before both of them fell prey to Dale Steyn with a brief hiatus. Imam scored 35 runs while Shan Masood struck 37 runs.
Azhar Ali once again disappointed and was caught behind on 15 run off Duanne Olivier.
Horror series for Azhar Ali:
36
0
2
6
0
15
Total runs 59
Average 9.83#SAvPAK— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 13, 2019
South Africa in its second innings was bowled out for 303 runs, setting a target of 381 runs for Pakistan to win the third Test. Quinton de Kock with 129 and Hashim Amla 71 runs remained the top scorers.
From bowlers, Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan took three wickets each, Mohammad Amir two whereas Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali also picked up one wicket each.
The Captain Sarfraz Ahmed took 10 catches behind the stumps in both innings of ongoing Test, and held the Pakistan Test record for the most dismissals in a match. Previously the record was held by Rashid Latif and Kamran Akmal for taking nine catches each in a match.
With Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam still at the crease, Pakistan has Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf as remaining players who are capable with the bat.
Sarfraz Ahmed struck his 18th fifty in the first innings but Faheem and Shadab didn’t make any impact. Therefore, significant contributions are required from rest of Pakistani batsmen if they want to end the Test series on high note.
