Elgar and Markram went into lunch with South Africa still 121 at the back of
Lunch South Africa 220 and 37 for 0 (Elgar 18*, Markram 16*) trail Pakistan 378 (Alam 109, Ashraf 64, Azaher 51, Rabada 3-70, Maharaj 3-90) by 121 runs
South Africa began day three just as despondently as they had capped a dismal second day, allowing Pakistan’s tail to not such a lot wag as jump, skip and hop the entire way to a potentially decisive lead. A 55-run partnership for the tenth wicket drove a stake deeper through the heart of South Africa’s chances in this Test as Pakistan wrapped up with 378, bloating the lead to 158 and ensuring South Africa must fight tough just to make Pakistan bat again in this Test.
Yasir Shah‘s innings may have looked informal what with the ever-present smile on his face and the caution he threw to the wind along the way, but this used to be no laughing matter for the visitors. After Pakistan began the day eight wickets down and 88 ahead, South Africa knew each run they added would tilt the odds further against them. They started off mannered enough when Kagiso Rabada knocking out Hasan Ali’s middle stump in the second one over of the day to succeed in to change into the third-fastest to 200 Test wickets.
But there used to be little time to celebrate, particularly as Nauman Ali and Shah made up our minds they still fancied a bat. The former crunched Rabada for four the first ball the South African bowled. Soon after, Shah drove him through the covers before perfectly placing a square cut for another boundary in one over. Pakistan brought up 350, and the 150-run lead when Shah danced down the ground to deposit Keshav Maharaj over long-on for six.
The left-arm spinner did in any case snare Nauman but not before the lead had stretched to 158, and South Africa were provided an hour to negotiate before lunch. The one object they might draw consolation from is Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram managed it better than Pakistan had dealt with the final hour on the first day, neutralising the new ball in the hands of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan. Markram might have been walking off when trapped in front by Afridi, but used to be saved when the review found the ball had pitched outdoor leg. It used to be a small win for a visiting side who need quite a few bigger wins to claw their way back in this Test.
Danyal Rasool is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Danny61000