On a rain-delayed third day, a nervous South Africa fell to 27-3 when terrible light ended play early, still 121 runs short of winning the first Test match against Pakistan at Centurion.
The host team bowled out Pakistan for 237 and is now chasing a modest score of 148.
Though Tony de Zorzi (2), Ryan Rickleton (0), and Tristan Stubbs (1) were all trapped leg before wicket, Pakistan maintained their own hopes of winning the match by taking three wickets in the first nine overs of South Africa’s second innings, with Mohammad Abbas taking two and Khurram Shahzad the third.
When play resumes on Sunday, Aiden Markram, who led the home team in scoring in the first innings, and captain Temba Bavuma will be at 22 not out.
In contrast to a string of careless strokes that saw his teammates get out, Saud Shakeel’s ejection was unfortunate. He led the score with 84 before being undone by a full toss from Jansen.
On Saturday, after Pakistan had made a strong start to the day’s play, Jansen got three wickets in four overs to complete a five-wicket haul, while Dane Paterson and Kagiso Rabada each claimed a wicket to give the hosts the lead.
A thunderstorm delayed play until after midday, but Shakeel and Babar Azam both hit fifty to overcome a two-run deficit at the beginning.
In a much-needed comeback to form, Babar struck his first fifty in his last 20 Test innings, and Shakeel carried on from their previous Test match against England as Pakistan overcame South Africa’s 90-run lead in the first innings and attempted to set their hosts a challenging target.
Before they lost wickets and momentum due to a series of careless strokes, they were 153-3 and starting to unsettle their hosts.
Babar had made quick progress from 16 not out overnight to 50, but in Jansen’s opening over, he was tempted to swing at a short and wide delivery and was caught on the boundary by Corbin Bosch.
After gloving a misdirected delivery down leg to be caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, Mohammad Rizwan also gave up his wicket cheaply, going out for three. Jansen’s third wicket of the day increased his five-for, while Salman Ali Agha went behind after driving at just the third ball he faced.
About ten minutes before teatime, Aamer Jamal was ejected for 18 after he was caught by Ryan Rickelton trying to grab a short delivery from Paterson. After nicking Rabada to the slips, Naseem Shah came in without scoring.
Although they have another chance in the second test against Pakistan, which begins at Newlands in Cape Town on January 3, South Africa is aiming for a victory to guarantee a spot in the World Test Championship final the following year.
