Defiant Masood reduces Pakistan’s deficit to 109 in the second Test against South Africa

Defiant Masood reduces Pakistan’s deficit to 109 in the second Test against South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Pakistan captain Shan Masood continued to defy South Africa as the tourists reduced the deficit to 109 runs on the fourth day of the second and final Test on Monday.

Masood scored a defiant 137 from 232 balls to take Pakistan to 312-3 at lunch, with Saud Shakeel getting away lucky to remain unbeaten on 16.

South Africa forced the follow-up after Pakistan collapsed to 194 on a dry wicket in response to the home team’s massive first innings score of 615.

Shakeel could have been out before the wicket of Kwena Maphaka in the penultimate over before the break, but South Africa were not persuaded by a television review of Indian field umpire Nitin Menon’s not-out decision. TV replays clearly showed that the ball would have hit the left-hander’s leg stump, giving South Africa their third wicket of the session.

But Masood stood firm and continued to lead Pakistan’s strong defense on Monday after forming a record-breaking double-century opening partnership with Babar Azam (81) that took the tourists to 213-1 on the third day.

Nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad (18) frustrated South Africa in the morning before Marco Jansen (2-74) caught him at point. Jansen almost dismissed Kamran Ghulam (28) without scoring in the same over, but David Bedingham missed a sitter at first slip.

Ghulam hit four boundaries but was undone by Kagiso Rabadas (1-81) with a throw that came back just far enough to hit the off-stump when the batsman attempted a loose drive and missed the line of the ball.

Masood, who continued with 102, continued to fight solidly against the pace and left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj as the left-hander hit just two boundaries with his patient stroke in the first session.

South Africa secured their place in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June after narrowly beating Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test at Centurion.

Australia booked its place in the WTC final at Lord’s after claiming a six-wicket win over India in the fifth and final Test in Sydney on Sunday. Australia also regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years with a 3-1 series win against India.

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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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