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Third Test: Pakistan need 381 runs to win against South Africa

Third Test: Pakistan need 381 runs to win against South Africa
January 13, 2019
JOHANNESBURG (92 News) – South Africa on Sunday set 381-run target for Pakistan to win third Test match at Johannesburg as Pakistan has already lost the 3-match series. Pakistan need 381-runs to win third Test after Quinton de Kock equalled his Test best of 129 to drive South Africa to 303 in their second innings. However, South Africa’s second innings ended at 303 with Shadab’s quick three wickets. The Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Q de Kock has become the wall in the Pakistan bowling attack and shattered their dream to bundle out SA low total. Q de Kock magnificent ton with 18 fours put South Africa on top. Faheem Ashraf and Shahdab Khan took three each while Muhammad Amir strike twice. Earlier, South Africa began their day with a total of 135 runs for the loss of five wickets. On day two of the game, Hashim Amla steadied South Africa after early wickets fell. Faheem Ashraf took two wickets, whereas Shadab, Abbas and Amir took one each. After South African Olivier’s third five-wicket haul of the series dismissed Pakistan for 185 and handed SA a 77-run first-innings lead, Amla and de Kock built on it. Earlier in the day, South Africa made a scintillating comeback after their batting collapse in the first innings by bundling out Pakistan to only 185 runs. Once again, Pakistan’s batting line-up proved to be too fragile in front of the solid bowling attack of the Proteas as no one in the top order except the opener Imam ul Haq was able to withstand for a while. Quickfire fifty of the Skipper Sarfaraz on just 40 balls was a great moment in the match for the visitors. Unfortunately, Babar missed his half-century just by a single run as he was caught out on 49 of to Olivier’s bowling. Sarfaraz Ahmed and often regarded as Pakistan’s backbone in batting, Babar Azam made a fighting 78 runs partnership for the sixth wicket but soon Sarfaraz Ahmed was sent back to Pavilion by Kagiso Rabada.Imam fell for 43 when he was caught at second slip off Philander but Babar Azam struck the ball crisply to be 41 not out at lunch off 39 balls. Pakistan is facing the fear of whitewash in the series as South Africa have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
South Africa win toss, chose to bat first in third Test
Earlier, South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in the third Test against Pakistan at Johannesburg on Friday. South Africa have already won the three-match series with 2-0. Elgar captains at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in place of Faf du Plessis, who is serving a one-match ban for slow over rate offenses in the first two tests. Du Plessis’ absence also opens a place for batsman Zubayr Hamza to make his test debut. South Africa retained its four-pronged pace-bowling attack of Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier, who have been instrumental in South Africa’s dominance of the series.

Team Squad:

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar (captain), Hashim Amla, Theunis de Bruyn, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier. Pakistan: Imam ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.