On the second day of the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park, South Africa's pacers maintained their dominance over Pakistan, leaving the visitors struggling with their batting. Amidst the fierce bowlers' assault, Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam achieved personal glory, becoming the first Pakistani to score 4,000 runs across all three formats of the game. This historic feat resonates within the cricketing community as it places him alongside India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have achieved the same milestone.
Despite his achievement, Azam’s contribution to the match was minimal as he was dismissed for just four runs, joining his team as they faced significant challenges against the South African bowlers. The match began unfavorably for Pakistan, who were bowled out for only 211 runs on the opening day, raising concerns about their batting capabilities against the proficient South African pace attack.
South Africa, led by pacer Corbin Bosch who played resiliently, ended their first innings at 301, thereby creating a 90-run lead over Pakistan. Bosch's entertaining unbeaten 81, filled with 18 boundaries, stood out and helped solidify South Africa’s advantage. His efforts partnered well with Aiden Markram, who top-scored for the hosts with 89 off 144 balls, allowing South Africa to build on their first innings score after resuming at 82 for three wickets.
Day Two's play witnessed moments of triumph and despair for both teams. Pakistan, who began their response with optimism, found themselves at 88 for three wickets by the end of the day, trailing South Africa by just two runs. This precarious position emphasized the uphill battle they faced to chase down the lead with only seven wickets left to play. Azam and compatriot Saud Shakeel managed to hold fort temporarily, indicating hope for the Pakistani side as they tread carefully against the seam attack.
Pakistan's innings saw captain Shan Masood contributing 28 runs alongside Saim Ayub, who also managed to score 28. Their partnerships provided some stability initially, but the South African bowlers struck back swiftly. Kagiso Rabada was first among the wickets, sending Ayub back to the pavilion, followed shortly by Masood falling to Marco Jansen's sharp delivery. The quick wickets raised alarm bells for the Pakistani team, as they found their middle order under serious pressure.
Azam's recognition for crossing the 4,000-run milestone across all formats brought some zest to the Pakistan camp, but it clashed starkly with the immediate need for runs on the board. The spotlight shifted from personal achievements to team results as they navigated through hostile bowling conditions.
At the close of Day Two, the match remains delicately poised. Pakistan needed to regroup under stressful circumstances, with Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel the last recognized partnership seeking to build on their current standing. The atmosphere remained tense as both teams readied for another day of testing play where every run mattered significantly against the backdrop of South Africa's lead.
The stage is set for Day Three, with the Pakistani batsmen needing to set the pace if they are to emerge victorious from this contest. Every delivery counts as both sides intensify their efforts, presenting a compelling cricket showcase on this celebrated holiday series.
