Shan Masood makes history as the first Pakistan captain to score a Test century in South Africa
The Pakistan captain Shan Masood, makes history that no captain from Pakistan has done before, he scored a test century in South Africa. While playing the Proteas at Newlands in the second test, he scored his sixth test hundred and it was the first time he scored one in South Africa.
Shan had reached his century by the time Babar got out, falling just 19 runs short of his hundred. The two had started brilliantly, putting together an incredible 205-run partnership after Pakistan was forced to follow on, having managed only 194 in response to South Africa’s massive total of 615. Pakistan found themselves in a tough spot after being bowled out for just 194.
In 2007, Inzamam-ul-Haq was on the verge of getting three figures but didn't have enough partners left to make it happen. Saleem Malik almost did it in 1995, but fell short by just one run, getting out at 99. Shan was the first Pakistani captain to achieve this success in South Africa, something no one before him could do.
Highest scores by Pakistan captains in South Africa:
| Rank | Player | Score | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shan Masood | 102* | 2025 |
| 2 | Saleem Malik | 99 | 1995 |
| 3 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | 92* | 2007 |
| 4 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 64 | 2013 |
| 5 | Sarfaraz Ahmed | 56 | 2019 |
In the follow-on innings, Pakistan really held a strong partnership between Shan and Babar. Babar was doing incredibly well, hitting his third fifty in a row for the series, and it seemed he was going to hit a hundred, but then, Marco Jansen bowled him out when he was at 81.
Pakistan ended Day 3 at 213/1, still 208 runs behind South Africa, but they are really trying much harder now. The 205 runs they put together as openers is now the largest starting partnership in a follow-on in the history of Test cricket. The visitors, already missing Saim Ayub due to an ankle injury, will need to dig deep on Day 4 to give themselves a chance in the match.