Courtesy: Google
On Saturday, December 28, Babar Azam, the Pakistan batting superstar, scored his first fifty in Test cricket in two years during the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. After failing to get into the fifties for 19 consecutive Test innings since December 2022 against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi, Babar Azam finally found some form and rhythm to batting in the longest format of the game.
Notably, the highest individual score for Babar Azam in the last couple of years before his recent fifty was 41 runs in 79 balls against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) last year. After making his way out in the middle in the final session on day two with Pakistan struggling in the second innings, Babar Azam took the approach to put away the bad balls, and he continued doing the same in the post-lunch session on day three following the early morning rains.
Babar Azam was dismissed on 50 off 85 by Marco Jansen in SA vs PAK first Test
The former Pakistan captain struck nine fours during his 50-run knock in 85 balls before throwing away his wicket in a shocking manner on Marco Jansen’s bowling. The left-arm seamer delivered a short and wide delivery to Babar Azam, who managed to find Corbin Bosch at the deep point region in his attempt to clear him before being livid with himself in disgust as to what he had just done.
Shortly after, Marco Jansen took two more wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali in quick succession, to reduce them to 176/6 in 42.1 overs with their lead being just 86 runs. This was the third five-wicket haul for Marco Jansen in his young Test career, while currently playing in just his 16th match for South Africa in the longest format of the game.
Moreover, Pakistan desperately require Saud Shakeel, who has gone past his fifty, to bat till the end with the tail in the second innings against South Africa, to post a competitive total for the hosts to chase down.
