SA 27/3 in 9 Overs (Target 148 ) | South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test 2024 Day 3 Highlights: Pakistan Sniff Victory As Aiden Markram Holds Fort For South Africa

Day 3 has everything, rain, wickets, runs, and milestones. The day began with Pakistan taking the lead thanks to fifty from Babar Azam and then stretched their lead with a stellar knock from Saud Shakeel. For South Africa, Marco Jansen was the star performer, claiming five wickets, which ensured that Pakistan's lead did not go past 150. Chasing 148, South Africa started poorly losing as many as three wickets, with Mohammad Abbas tearing apart the hosts' top order. 

STUMPS! That will be it for Day 3, as Nitin Menon asks the players to go off the field after Shah Masood refused to introduce a spinner into the attack with fading light. 

OUT! Mohammad Abbas gets his second wicket, and Tristan Stubbs has to depart. Stubbs wanted to cover the line but missed the ball completely. The ball hit the batter's pad on the back leg, which was striking Stubbs in the middle stump line. Tristan Stubbs lbw b Mohammad Abbas 1(10)

OUT! Khurram Shahzad gets his first wicket, and South Africa are two down. Ryan Rickelton continues to disappoint, getting out leg-before for zero.  Rickelton walked across his stumps to hit the bat and missed the delivery completely. Ryan Rickelton lbw b Khurram Shahzad 0(5)

OUT! Tony de Zorzi gets dismissed for two. Mohammad Abbas provides Pakistan with the early breakthrough getting Zorzi leg-before wicket. The ball swung in late, catching the batter a bit late. Tony de Zorzi lbw b Abbas 2(13)

This has been a steady start for South Africa, with both openers Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi starting well. Both openers are showing restraint, and showing perfect defence. Pakistan will bank on the new-ball to do the trick for them.

South Africa openers Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram are in the middle and will look to give the hosts a solid start in their chase of 148 runs.  Pakistan will want to make inroads and use fading conditions to their advantage. 

OUT! Corbin Bosch gets his first wicket of the second innings, which wraps up the Pakistan side as well, who managed 237. South Africa needs 148 runs to win, and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Bosch enticed Mohammad Abbas to play on the front foot, which the batter obliged and perished. Mohammed Abbas c Markram b Corbin Bosch 0(10) 

OUT! Just as Saud Shakeel was looking to up the ante, South Africa's captain brought in Marco Jansen from round the wicket, who produced an instant result. Shakeel missed a full toss, which hit the front of his pad, which the umpire gave out. Shakeel also took the DRS, but the replays suggested a clear leg-before wicket. Saud Shakeel lbw b Marco Jansen 84(113)

The post-tea session has been all about Pakistan, and in particular Saud Shakeel, who has taken it upon himself to do all the heavy lifting, and score as many runs as possible. Shakeel, meanwhile is also nearing his fifth Test century, as Pakistan near the 150 lead mark. 

OUT! Pakistan's innings is collapsing and how! Almost all the wickets have been soft dismissals, and this too is the same, where Naseem Shah edged a simple catch off Kasgiso Rabada to the slip fielder. Naseem Shah c Tristan Stubbs b Rabada 0(4)

OUT! Another soft dismissal for Pakistan, Aamir Jamel just gifts his wicket to Dane Paterson. Jamel played the dreaded hook shot and handed a simple catch to the square leg field, who grabbed it with ease. Aamer Jamal c Rickelton b Dane Paterson 18(32)

After a flurry of wickets, things have slowed down in the middle, with both Aamir Jamel and Saud Shakeel playing sensible cricket. South Africa will look to wrap up Pakistan's tail quickly, and not let the lead go past 200. 

OUT! Marco Jansen gets his fifth wicket and removes Salman Agha, who just came in the middle in the last over. Agha went for the expansive drive and perished handing a simple catch to the wicketkeeper. Pakistan have pressed the panic button surely. Salman Agha c Verreynne b Marco Jansen 1(3)

OUT! Macro Jansen gets his fourth wicket, and Mohammed Rizwan has to depart. Rizwan just looking to flick the ball, managed to hand the South African wicketkeeper a simple catch. Pakistan have lost half of their side, and have stretched their lead to 82. Mohammad Rizwan c Verreynne b Marco Jansen 3(7)

FIFTY! Vice-captain Saud Shakeel has come to the party. Shakeel has been Pakistan's most consistent batter this year, and yet again rises to the occasion, scoring a swifty half-century. 

OUT! Marco Jansen provides South Africa with the big fish and scalps the crucial wicket of Babar Azam. Azam, who looked to convert his fifty into a hundred, perished trying to cut a short ball, which found extra bounce from the pitch and became the batter's undoing. Babar Azam c Corbin Bosch b Marco Jansen 50(85)

FIFTY!  Finally, Babar Azam comes into his own and slams his 27th half-century for Pakistan in Test. Azam took balls to achieve this personal landmark, where the former captain showcased both aggressive and defensive cricket. Azam has added 73 runs with Saud Shakeel for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan have looked the more aggressive of the two sides this afternoon, with Babar Azam doing most of the scoring. Amaz along with vice-captain Saud Shakeel has added 40 runs for the fourth wicket and still has Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, and Aamir Jamel sitting in the dressing room. 

Day 3 has finally resumed, and for Pakistan, this is make or break day, where a lot will depend on Babar Azam, and Saud Shakeel to ensure the visitors first get out of danger and take control of the match. South Africa, on the other hand, will hope to take quick wickets and keep Pakistan's lead to a bare minimum.