South Africa took a significant lead over Pakistan on the second day of the Boxing Day Test match at SuperSport Park, Centurion, moving closer to securing their first-ever World Test Championship final berth. The hosts rode on strong performances, particularly from debutant Corbin Bosch, who’s impactful batting helped South Africa overcome the pressure posed by Pakistan's bowlers.
On Day Two, South Africa faced the challenge of chasing down Pakistan's first innings total of 211 runs. Opening pair Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma started promisingly, reducing the initial 129-run deficit by 54 runs before a breakthrough for Pakistan. Bavuma, who had looked solid, fell to Aamir Jamal, giving Pakistan their first wicket of the day.
Despite losing their first wicket early, South Africa seemed poised to assert control with newcomer David Bedingham quickly scoring 30 runs. Just when it seemed South Africa might build on their momentum, Pakistan’s Naseem Shah struck back decisively, dismantling parts of the South African middle order and leaving them at 191 for 7.
Yet, Bosch had other ideas. With South Africa precariously placed, he showcased impressive strokeplay, remaining unbeaten with 81 runs, including 15 boundaries. His partnerships with the lower-order batters proved pivotal; particularly noteworthy were the 41-run stand with Kagiso Rabada and the 47-run partnership with Dane Paterson. These contributions ensured South Africa ended their innings with 301 runs, establishing a noteworthy 90-run first innings lead.
"[Corbin Bosch's innings was] (a) massive momentum shift for us and it was hugely valuable..." Aiden Markram praised Bosch's performance, highlighting the pivotal role the debutant played. Markram's own innings of 89 runs had set the stage for South Africa's performance, establishing themselves firmly as the team to beat.
Heading to Day Three, Pakistan began their second innings facing the deficit posed by South Africa's solid performance. Babar Azam managed to provide some resilience at the crease during Pakistan’s second innings, scoring 50 runs, but his wicket, claimed by Marco Jansen, was the beginning of another mini-collapse for the tourists. The pressure mounted as South Africa's bowling attack effectively capitalized on any opening, ensuring continuity in their dominance.
Saud Shakeel was the standout performer for Pakistan, contributing 84 runs as the top scorer. Nevertheless, shaking off their early struggles proved challenging for the remaining batters, too many of whom fell to the disciplined South African bowlers. Marco Jansen led the bowling assault, successfully claiming six wickets as he consistently dismantled the Pakistani batting lineup.
Pakistan's second innings ended at 237 runs, leaving South Africa to chase just 148 runs for victory. The third day’s play had its share of delays, with rain causing interruptions, but the match’s intensity only heightened with the stakes at play, as predictions suggested the pitch might offer increasing assistance to the bowlers.
Faced with the target, South Africa’s beginning to chase was shaky. They lost three wickets for just 27 runs, putting themselves under pressure as they continued to chase the slender target. Poor visibility due to bad light interrupted play, but South Africa would resume their innings needing just 121 runs with Temba Bavuma and Markram at the crease.
The fourth day promises to bring with it tense moments, as Pakistan’s bowlers will undoubtedly look to capitalize on any abortive attempts by South Africa at chasing down their target. This Test is not merely about winning but also about maintaining momentum for the World Test Championship, which has every test series hanging heavily on the performance of each side. Every ball bowled from here on could make all the difference.
Overall, South Africa's performance bore the hallmark of resilience and determination, giving them the edge they needed heading toward the conclusion of this historic match against Pakistan.
