Pakistan opening duo Babar Azam and Shan Masood scripted multiple records with their 200-run partnership against South Africa at the Cape Town test. The incident occurred during the second test of the Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25.
During the Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25, a total of 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and a couple of tests were scheduled to be played between 10 December 2024 and 7 January 2025. SA won the T20I series by 2-0 while the visitors won all three matches of the ODI series.
In the two-match test series, South Africa won the first match by 2 wickets and qualified for the WTC 2023-25 final.
In the second test, South Africa posted a mammoth 615 in their first inning while Pakistan scored just 194 in their first inning. In the follow-on inning, Pakistan’s opening batters made an impressive start by adding a whopping 205 runs for the first wicket. Shan Masood and Babar Azam made a steady inning and turned the game in favour of Pakistan.
During the process, Shan Masood scored his sixth test century which also turned out to be the first in test against South Africa. With the 205-run partnership, Babar Azam and Shan Masood became the first Asian opening pair to have a 200-plus partnership in South Africa.
This 205 runs partnership between Babar Azam and Shan Masood scripted multiple records which are as follows:
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)
200-plus stands while following-on in away Tests (any wicket)
- 210 – Geoff Howarth* & Jeff Crowe (NZ) vs WI, Kingston, 1985
- 209 – Alistair Campbell & Andy Flower (ZIM) vs IND, Nagpur, 2000
- 206 – Ken Barrington & Ted Dexter* (ENG) vs IND, Kanpur, 1961
- 205 – Shan Masood* & Babar Azam (PAK) vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
- 204 – Graeme Smith* & Neil McKenzie (SA) vs ENG, Lord’s, 2008
Highest opening stands while following-on in Tests
- 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 while following on (any wicket)
- 205 – Shan Masood & Babar Azam vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
- 154 – Hanif Mohammad & Saeed Ahmed vs WI, Bridgetown, 1958
- 152 – Hanif Mohammad & Imtiaz Ahmed vs WI, Bridgetown, 1958
- 148 – Saeed Anwar & Saleem Malik vs AUS, Rawalpindi, 1994
- 137 – Imtiaz Ahmed & Mushtaq Mohammad vs ENG, The Oval, 1962
Speaking of the second test at Cape Town, South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first where Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton opened the innings for the Proteas. Aiden Markram who won the player of the match for the first test of the series lost his wicket to Khurram Shahzad after scoring 17 runs off 40 deliveries.
Following his dismissal, Wiaan Mulder joined hands with Ryan Rickelton and was expected to build a partnership but Mohammad Abbas dismissed Mulder for 5 runs and packed him to the pavilion.
Followed batter Tristan Stubbs also lost his wicket to Salman Agha without scoring a run after facing six balls.
While Pakistan was seen to have an upper hand in the Cape Town test, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma and opening batter Ryan Rickelton made a massive 235 runs partnership for the fourth wicket and put South Africa in the commanding position at the end of Day 1.
Salman Agha in the 77th over dismissed Bavuma for 106 runs and broke the partnership. Bavuma’s 106 also made him join an elite list of South Africa Test captains with 500-plus runs in a home season.
- 600 – Faf du Plessis in 2017/18 (Avg: 42.85)
- 582 – Herbie Taylor in 1922/23 (Avg: 64.66)
- 536 – Dudley Nourse in 1948/49 (Avg: 76.57)
- 508 – Herbie Taylor in 1913/14 (Avg: 50.80)
- 504 – Temba Bavuma in 2024/25 (Avg: 72)
After David Bedingham lost his wicket for five runs, Kyle Verreynne and Ryan Rickelton made a century stand and led South Africa to score 429 runs for 5 wickets loss before the Day 2 lunch break.
Ryan Rickelton scored his maiden test double-century and guided SA to post a mammoth score in their first inning. Rickelton scored 259 runs before being dismissed by Mir Hamza while Verreynne secured his fourth test century in the process.
With Marco Jansen’s 62 and Maharaj’s 40, South Africa scored 615 runs for 10 wickets loss in their first inning.
On the other hand, Pakistan made a struggling start as they lost their first three wickets while scoring just 20 runs. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan made a stand and were expected to build a match-saving knock.
Kwena Maphaka secured his maiden test wicket by dismissing Babar for 58 and broke the 98-run stand. Soon Mulder dismissed Mohammad Rizwan(46) and loaded pressure on the Pakistan lineup.
Without much contribution from the middle order, Pakistan scored just 194 runs after losing 10 wickets. The visitors then were forced to a follow-on inning. Unlike the previous innings, the Pakistan opening duo was seen at a whole new level as the pair added 205 runs for the first wicket.
Shan Masood registered a century while Babar Azam was dismissed for 81 and broke the hearts of many. At the end of day 3, Pakistan scored 213 runs for a wicket loss and trail by 208 runs.
