South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd Test, Day 4 Live Score

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, A very tight single! Could have been gone if it had hit the stumps! Full, around off, coming in, from over the stumps, Shan Masood drives it to mid off and runs for a quick single. Temba Bavuma picks up and aims at the non striker's end but misses it. There is no such need for these kinda singles for Pakistan but they are doing it so.

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Hits the deck, on a short of a length, on middle, Shakeel taps it to cover for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Back of a length, outside off, comes a tad bit slower than Masood was hoping for. He dabs it in front of backward point and gets a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Hard length, on off, Shan makes a good block down the deck.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Slower through the air, full around off and middle, angling away, Saud comes forward and defends it off the front foot.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Short again, around middle and leg, Saud Shakeel swivels and tucks it to deep fine. 

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Short, outside off, from around the wicket, Shan Masood cuts it wide of point off the back foot for a single. 

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Tossed up, Saud Shakeel works it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Full and drifting into the stumps, from around off, Shan Masood tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Nagging length, around off, Saud Shakeel goes deep in the crease and knocks it to deep mid-wicket for one. 

Pace or spin now?  Spin for now. Maharaj continues.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Shorter than the previous one, angling into the body, Shan Masood gets an outside edge in trying to keep it down to the off side. No harm is done! 

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Back of a length, outside off, Shan Masood dabs it in front of cover and runs off but is sent back by Saud. 

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Good length, coming into the batter, skids through off the surface, around leg, Saud Shakeel tucks it to square leg for a single. 

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Well outside off, on a fuller length, Saud Shakeel goes towards the line and looks to play a ball he is better off leaving out and misses on the outside edge. 

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, On a length, around off, Shakeel pushes it out.

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Angles it in, on off, Saud Shakeel blocks it to the leg side.

The players are back out in the middle. A good session for Pakistan means that they could actually wipe off this deficit by Tea itself. But can they weather the second new ball? No more spin. Kwena Maphaka will start off proceedings after Lunch. 7-0-33-0 so far. Saud Shakeel to face.

... DAY 4, SECOND SESSION ...

Meanwhile, in another surprising news from Down Under, DAN CHRISTIAN has come out of T20 retirement, as he has been picked in Sydney Thunder's squad. Christian comes in after the Thunder saw a horror collision between Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft a few nights ago, with both ruled out for a while due to concussion and fractured shoulderblade, broken nose and concussion respectively. Chritsian joins an elite club of players to feature in the BBL in their 40s, that includes Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge, Peter Siddle, Fawad Ahmed and the late Shane Warne. The 41-year old last represented Sydney Sixers in competitive cricket a couple of years ago and has since, served as an assistant coach for Sydney Thunder! He is currently involved in a game against Brisbane Heat, where first, Christian smashed 2 huge sixes in a quickfire unbeaten 23 (15) and has had excellent bowling figures of 3-0-16-1 so far. Will he able to see his side home? The Heat currently need 39 from 28 balls.

Building on the previous paragraph, Mitchell Marsh is all set to feature in the BBL. There are rumours that he might be sidelined for the Lankan tour. It has been a horror last few months for the West Australian which has neither seen him score runs, nor pick wickets. And now, given that Beau Webster has made it big in his debut match, he could be preferred over Mitch. Strangely, there is no word about Cameron Green because when he gets fit, whom does he replace in the side?

Looking for news around the globe, word is filtering in that Australia's tour of Sri Lanka, which is set to commence from 29th January, 2025, could see the Kangaroos hopping without their regular skipper, Pat Cummins. Steve Smith might just get the nod to lead the side in that series. Cummins has expressed his desire to spend time with his family. Normally, what happens is, once the international season ends in Australia, for the Men, the players are released to play their domestic T20 League, the Big Bash. But, after an energy-sapping series with India, and given that the Lankan tour is not far off, the Test stars are not quite keen to play for a while. Steven Smith has been named in the Sydney Sixers squad but highly doubtful that he will play. Travis Head has made it pretty clear that he will not play for Adelaide Strikers as he wants some rest.

The second new ball will be due in 3 overs and South Africa might just take it immediately as soon as it becomes available. They will aim to strike multiple times and if that does happen, then we could see a finish before Tea itself. In contrast, if Pakistan manage to blunt the new ball, then we could actually be talking about how much can the visitors set for the Proteas to score. Unlike South Africa, Pakistan have got a long tail and the hosts will be eyeing to expose that. The second session should start by 1110 GMT.

South Africa are still on top in this game, but the problem sometimes is in the mind. Normally, when you get a lead of 400-plus and enforce the follow on, you are expected and you expect from yourself too, to quickly polish off the opposition. The home side would have dreamt of a win last night itself at the start and then, looked for quick wickets this morning too. But because of those partnerships, the heat is getting to the side which is actually on top. Last evening, the banter was one proof while now, the shock exhibited just before Lunch only because you missed a review, is bordering on the lines of desperation. One can understand if the game is getting out of hand, but still, there is a lot of time left in the contest.

When Shan Masood plays an innings like this, he almost looks invincible. His technique has been excellent and barring a slight weakness against reverse swing, which can happen to anyone, he has been as solid as a rock. He has to be the answer to Ryan Rickelton's 259 if Pakistan are to try and make a challenge in this Test match. And for that, he needs partners. One good thing so far in this innings has been the partnerships - 205, 30, 43 and the current one - 34. What this does is, prevents collapses and allows the new batter to get set. Saud Shakeel has come in and without taking much risks, kept milking the bowlers around, frustrating the hosts. 

Barring that half an hour before Drinks, Pakistan have done reasonably well in this session of play. Perhaps it was a ploy overnight, in the dressing room, when Khurram Shahzad started to play his shots this morning. But what surprised us was that even Kamran Ghulam started to attack. Normally, teams do this when the deficit is under 75, so that quick runs can be scored, unlike here. However, after Ghulam's dismissal, the visitors have gone back to playing traditional cricket, playing on the merit of the balls.

The bowling certainly did not look as flat as it was almost the whole of Sunday. Barring the no balls, everyone who bowled, hit their mark. Marco Jansen got rid of the nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad while Kagiso Rabada managed to dislodge the attacking Kamran Ghulam. However, it has been an innings of toil for the bowlers, as the team has bowled 77 overs now. The pitch might be showing some signs of odd bounce but that is very infrequent. There is a small sign of reverse swing as well but other than that, the pitch still looks a very good one to bat on.

Excellent session for both sides. Primarily Pakistan, who managed to score 99 runs in 28 overs but South Africa bowled really well to pick up 2 wickets. What this stat does not show is that they could have got maybe 1 or 2 more.

Drama just before the last ball before Lunch. Tristan Stubbs is moving across to silly point and is calling for a helmet. However, umpire Kumar Dharmasena is asking the keeper, Kyle Verreynne, also to wear a helmet. All in readiness now.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Floated, outside off, Masood comes forward and drives it through the covers for another brace. That will now be LUNCH ON DAY 4, PAKISTAN ARE 312/3, TRAILING BY 109!

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Slower again, a bit wider outside off, Shan Masood gets outside the line and blocks.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Landed around middle, Masood comes down and defends.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Full, just outside off, Shan Masood leans and stabs it down the track. 

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Drags the length down and keeps it on middle, Saud Shakeel hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket for a single. 

Are we going to get one more? Yes, we will.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Full, on off, Shakeel drives it well but straight to cover.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Slipped down the leg side, Shan Masood misses his flick.

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Around middle and off, pushed out from the crease.

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Around middle and leg, helped through mid-wicket for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, Hard length, at the stumps, Saud Shakeel keeps it out.

Not sure what the delay is for. The South Africans are in a huddle and are shocked looking at the giant screen. If they are shocked as to how did the umpire not give it out, well, if you look at the replay, Kyle Verreynne was going down the leg side. Second, why didn't they review it in the first place? Third, what is the point now, brooding over spoilt milk? Fourth, doesn't a lead of 113 give you enough confidence of getting your man again? Finally, they get moving. This will definitely be the last over before Lunch now.

Kwena Maphaka to Saud Shakeel, A loud shout for LBW, but the umpire stays unmoved. South Africa do not opt for a review. This is angling into the batter, on a good length, on middle and leg. It skids through the surface and Saud Shakeel's head falls over as he tries to tuck it across the line and misses. The ball thuds his front pad right in front of the stumps. Oh dear, the Ball Track on the replay shows that the ball was going on to hit the top of leg stump and had they challenged the onfield call, it would have been overturned to OUT. A big, big miss just before Lunch!

Kwena Maphaka to Shan Masood, Kwena Maphaka comes back into the attack for a short burst before Lunch and bowls it on a length, into the pads, Shan Masood clips it through mid-wicket for one.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, More runs. Very full, around leg stump, Shakeel comes forward and just eases it through mid on. Tristan Stubbs at deepish mid on has some work to do to his left and by the time he gets there, two runs are taken.

Keshav Maharaj to Shan Masood, Change of angle from Maharaj, comes around the wicket. Darts it on the pads, Shan Masood flicks it through square leg for a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Landed outside off, Saud Shakeel gets a big stride and pushes the ball through point. Calls, 'AAJA, AAJA, AAJA!' to his skipper, meaning, 'Come, come, come!' and the single is completed with ease.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Cries of 'catch it' but that was hit a bit too well by Shakeel. Full, on middle, Saud Shakeel skips out of the crease and lofts it over that shortish long on for a couple of runs. 

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Quicker through the air, full and on middle, Saud Shakeel blocks.

Keshav Maharaj to Saud Shakeel, Full, outside off, Saud Shakeel sweeps it from well in front but can't get it past backward square leg. 

Aiden Markram to Shan Masood, Slower through the air, around off, Masood defends.