Pakistan is looking to strengthen itself and stabilize its first innings after losing early wickets in the second Test against South Africa played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Sunday.

The national team resumes its innings on day three at 64-3 with Babar Azam (31*) and Mohammad Rizwan (9*) at the crease, 551 runs behind the hosts’ mammoth total of 615 runs in the first game is attributed to innings.

A day earlier, the visitors endured a dismal start to their first innings as they lost three consecutive wickets, including the wicket of captain Shan Masood.

Masood fell to Rabada in the first over of the innings. Kamran Ghulam followed him in the sixth round and put the Green Shirts in danger with a score of 18:2.

Rabada struck again on the fourth ball of the ninth over, dismissing Saud Shakeel for a duck.

The Green Shirts are already 1-0 down against the Proteas and would need to win the second Test if they want to level the two-match series.

Earlier in the game, the home team’s makeshift opener Ryan Rickelton helped his team score an impressive 615 runs in the first innings with his 259-run knock.

Pakistan’s bowling attack was reeling from the onslaught of South African batters and Kyle Verreynne also scored heavily off just 147 balls.

Mohammad Abbas and Salman Ali Agha managed to take three wickets each while Mir Hamza and Khuram Shahzad took out two batters each.

XI play

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (week), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (week), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka