NEW DELHI: A heated exchange unfolded on day three of the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands when Wiaan Mulder aggressively threw the ball at Babar Azam, hitting the Pakistani batter.
The incident occurred in the 32nd over of Pakistan’s follow-on innings. Babar played a firm drive back to the bowler, who collected it in his follow-through before hurling it at the batter.
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The throw, far from accurate, struck Babar on his foot as he stood slightly outside his crease.
Subsequently, words were exchanged, and the atmosphere grew tense as players from both sides intervened, with the umpires stepping in to diffuse the situation.
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Amid the drama, Babar remained composed, continuing his impressive knock alongside captain Shan Masood. The duo stitched together a remarkable 205-run opening stand, a record for Pakistan against South Africa in Tests.
Masood’s unbeaten 102, complemented by Babar’s fluent 81, displayed resilience as Pakistan fought to recover from a 421-run first-innings deficit.
Babar’s innings, however, ended 14 minutes before the close when he edged Marco Jansen to gully, once again missing out on a long-awaited century.
Despite the disappointment, his efforts, coupled with Masood’s century, emphasised that the pitch held no hidden terrors.
The second innings starkly contrasted Pakistan’s first, where Babar (58) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) offered brief resistance before a collapse.
Debutant Kwena Maphaka and Wiaan Mulder dismantled Pakistan’s middle order, leaving little for the rest.
At the end of day three, Pakistan were 213/1, trailing by 208, with their fighting spirit reignited in what has been a rollercoaster Test match.
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