Cape Town: Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Babar Azam shared an opening stand of 205 runs in the second Test against South Africa on Sunday. After being forced to follow on, the opening duo of the visiting team, Masood and Azam joined forces to ink history. Pakistan were skittled for 194 in response to South Africa’s humongous 615 in the second Test played at Cape Town. Pakistan were on 213/1 at the stumps on the third day and are trailing by 208 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Masood was struggling with his form since the first Test of the series against England but he struck in the hour of the need and became the first Pakistan skipper to score a ton in South Africa.
.@babarazam258 and @shani_official become the first Asian opening pair to have a 200-plus partnership in South Africa 🤝
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2025
Babar is dismissed after a solid 81 🏏#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/50Em4u6xri
Highest opening stand while following on
With follow-on being enforced on them, the Pakistan openers fought valiantly to stitch a massive partnership. The partnership of 205 runs was the highest opening stand by any team while following on. The Pakistan duo surpassed Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie's record of 204-run opening stand which the South African pair reached at Lord’s in 2008.
Skipper @shani_official's unbeaten century drives Pakistan's defiance in the second innings 🏏#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/SwlbZbz4JG
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 5, 2025
Highest opening partnership while following-on in Test cricket
- 205 - Shan Masood, Babar Azam (PAK) vs SA - Cape Town, 2025
- 204 - Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie (SA) vs ENG - Lord’s, 2008
- 185 - Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes (BAN) vs ENG - Lord’s, 2010
- 182 - Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan (ENG) vs WI - St. John’s, 2004
- 176 - Graham Gooch, Michael Atherton (ENG) vs IND - The Oval, 1990
Highest partnerships for PAK vs SA in Tests (any wicket)
- 219 - Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan (Cape Town, 2013)
- 205 - Shan Masood, Babar Azam (Cape Town, 2025)
- 197 - Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (Dubai, 2013)
- 186* - Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan (Dubai, 2010)
- 161 - Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan (Lahore, 2007)
Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the action for six weeks so Babar Azam stepped up to open the innings. Babar played a knock of 81 runs while Shan Masood was unbeaten on 102 runs by the end of the day.
Pakistan concluded the third day at 213/1 with the follow-on being enforced on them.
