Rain delays work as Marco Jansen gets stuck in

Marco Jansen claimed a five-for on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday at SuperSport Park. | AFP

Marco Jansen claimed a five-for on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday at SuperSport Park. | AFP

Published Dec 28, 2024

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South Africa v Pakistan – First Test, Day 3, Tea

Pakistan: 211 all out and 212/8

Saud Shakeel 66; Marco Jansen 5/42

South Africa: 301 all out

Aiden Markram 89; Naseem Shah 3/32

Pakistan lead by 122 runs with two wicktes in hand

South Africa snatched the third innings away from Pakistan as they need two wickets to start the run chase following a wiped out first session, due to rain at SuperSport Park, in Centurion.

Three quick wickets from Proteas left-arm fast bowler, Marco Jansen, pulled the game back for South Africa after Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel put on a proper shift after play commenced at 1.40pm on Day 3.

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 28, 2024

Azam and Shakeel put on a 79-run stand for the fourth-wicket partnership, frustrating the Proteas bowlers who needed to make things happen considering the moisture at SuperSport Park following the rain in the morning.

While Rabada was consistently beating the two batters' outside edges consistently, he just did not have partners at the other end who bowled consistent lines and lengths to build pressure.

Instead, Azam and Shakeel played freely and put South Africa under pressure until Azam (50) slashed at a short and wide delivery from Jansen, hitting it straight to Corbin Bosch in the point boundary.

With Azam back in the pavilion and Jansen with his tail up, Mohammad Rizwan (3) followed soon after, playing a pull shot at a shortish, leg-side delivery to hand South Africa yet another big wicket.

Jansen took his fifth wicket of the innings when he enticed Salman Agha to a booming drive well outside the off stump line only to get a feather of an edge straight to wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne.

It was a come back of note from Jansen (5/42) given that he looked way off in the first innings, so much that he was stripped of his new ball duties in the second innings. However, with the five-for, the 24-year-old reminded captain Temba Bavuma that he is a genuine wicket-taker.

Dane Paterson (1/41) and Kagiso Rabada (2/68) took a wicket apiece right at the end of the session to give South Africa the edge heading into the third and final session of the day. | Independent Media Sport