16.4 – Full and down the leg side, Shan Masood helps it towards fine leg for a run. The stand is worth 80 now.

16.3 – On middle and off, Azam leans and punches it towards long on for a single.

16.2 – Full and around middle, Babar works it towards short leg.

16.1 – FOUR! Aiden Markram is into the attack now and he starts off with a freebie. Floated, outside off, Babar Azam leans into the shot and drives it gloriously through the covers.

For the last 10 minutes or so, the crowd has been going bonker every time Tristan Stubbs has been fielding the ball. We initially thought that they must be loving him and probably some of his antics near the boundary, but actually no. Mike Haysman on air informs us that a few minutes back, there was a girl with a poster, which appeared on the giant screen. The wordings were in Afrikaan, which according to Haysman, read, ‘Stubbs, your zero can become a 100, if you have me in your domain’. The crowd loved that caption and seems like Stubbs liked it too. Ever since, he has been busy at the boundary, signing caps, bats, shirts and what not! That too, without complaining and also taking time to field the ball!

15.6 – Oh ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. Kyle Verreynne, you are so, so naughty.

Batsman_1 : Shan Masood 36(53)

Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 29(46)

Bowler : Keshav Maharaj 0/9(3)

Over : 16

Run : 4

Wicket : 0

Score : 74/0

15.5 – Outside off, Babar leans and drives it through the covers for a single, which is fielded by, shall we name him as the one who must not be named?

15.4 – On middle and leg, Babar Azam works this through square leg for a couple. The deficit is now 348.

For the last 10 minutes or so, the crowd has been going bonker every time Tristan Stubbs has been fielding the ball. We initially thought that they must be loving him and probably some of his antics near the boundary, but actually no. Mike Haysman on air informs us that a few minutes back, there was a girl with a poster, which appeared on the giant screen. The wordings were in Afrikaan, which according to Haysman, read, ‘Stubbs, your zero can become a 100, if you have me in your domain’. The crowd loved that captain and seems like Stubbs liked it too. Ever since, he has been busy at the boundary, signing caps, bats, shirts and what not! That too, without complaining and also taking time to field the ball!

15.3 – A touch short, on middle and leg, Shan Masood helps it to the man who seems omnipersent now at deep mid-wicket. Tristan Stubbs. A single taken.

15.2 – Fuller, around middle, well kept out.

15.1 – Around middle and leg, defended watchfully.

For the last 10 minutes or so, the crowf has been going bonker every time Tristan Stubbs has been fielding the ball. We initially thought that they must be loving him and probably some of his antics near the boundary, but actually no. Mike Haysman on air informs us that a few minutes back, there was a girl with a poster, which appeared on the giant screen.

14.6 – Around off, Shan taps it to the off side and scampers through.

Batsman_1 : Shan Masood 35(49)

Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 26(44)

Bowler : Kwena Maphaka 0/13(3)

Over : 15

Run : 7

Wicket : 0

Score : 70/0

14.5 – FOUR BYES! Another misdirected ball from Maphaka. He is getting his lengths okay but is struggling big time with his line. He goes for the yorker, but it is down the leg side. Masood looks to flick but misses. The ball hits one of the footholes and then spears violently past the diving keeper, to his right, to the fine leg fence.

14.4 – And again! On middle, Babar Azam works it through mid-wicket where Stubbs stops it again. Another run.

14.3 – Outside off, on a length, Masood punches it through point and guess who is the fielder – Tristan Stubbs! Another deafening roar! And dear me, it is Aiden Markram who cannot stop his smile. Single taken.

14.2 – Another one down the leg side, this time Shan Masood misses his flick. The keeper, Kyle Verreynne collects and gets the crowd excited by mocking a catch celebration.

14.1 – On a good length, around off, watchfully defended.

13.6 – Drops it short again, around middle and leg, from over the wicket, turning in, Shan Masood nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Batsman_1 : Shan Masood 33(44)

Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 25(43)

Bowler : Keshav Maharaj 0/5(2)

Over : 14

Run : 2

Wicket : 0

Score : 63/0

13.1 – Looped up, on off, Babar Azam lunges and pushes it out.

The last time openers for Pakistan added 50 or more in a partnership in a Test inning, was way back in December, 2023, between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, against Australia in Perth. Since then, they have had 17 innings prior to this one, with only 4 of those crossing 30.  They were losing a wicket roughly every 12-13 runs in this period for the opening wicket.

12.6 – Back of a length, outside off, going away, Babar Azam goes deep in the crease and steers it wide of cover for a single to end the over.

Batsman_1 : Babar Azam 24(38)

Batsman_2 : Shan Masood 32(43)

Bowler : Kwena Maphaka 0/10(2)

Over : 13

Run : 4

Wicket : 0

Score : 61/0

12.5 – On a good length, outside off, going away, Shan Masood cuts it to deep point for a single. There is some cheer for Tristan Stubbs as the reason is some poster of a girl.

13.5 – Drags his length, outside off, Babar Azam rocks back and cuts it wide of point for a single.

13.4 – Slower through the air, full around middle, Babar Azam defends it off the front foot.

13.3 – Pushes this one through quicker and fuller, on middle, Babar defends.

13.2 – Full and at the stumps, blocked confidently off the front foot.

12.4 – A wayward ball down the leg side, on a full length, Shan Masood watches it go through to the keeper who dives right to him and takes it.

12.3 – Hard length, just outside off, Shan Masood blocks it back to the bowler.

12.2 – Back of a length, on middle, Babar Azam hops towards the leg side and works it in front of cover for one.

11.4 – Comes around the wicket, flighted full, around middle, Babar Azam defends it off the front foot.