With 6 wickets in hand, South Africa just 29 runs ahead: South Africa batsmen Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen showed grit and resolve to hit 74 and 64 respectively, but on day three of the first test at the National Stadium on Thursday, the three wickets in the final half-hour gave Pakistan the advantage.

The Proteas’ score read 187/4 at stumps on day three, and the side has a lead of 29 runs. At 2 and 0, respectively, Keshav Maharaj and Quinton de Kock were undefeated. Proteas must have wished for the batsmen to show some grit after conceding a lead of 158, and that is precisely what happened as the top-order was in no mood to give in. The final half-an-hour, however, brought about a turn in Pakistan’s fortunes as the hosts managed to select three fast wickets to get straight back into the contest, Markram, van der Dussen, and Faf du Plessis (10).

Proteas openers Markram and Dean Elgar gave a steady start to the side as the pair put on 37 runs, resuming their second innings with a deficit of 158, ensuring that the visitors did not lose any wicket before the lunch break. Markram and Elgar were batting at the break, on 16 and 18 respectively.

The split, however, played in favor of Pakistan as Yasir Shah provided the hosts with Elgar’s breakthrough (29) and the opening stand of 48 runs for the Proteas came to an end. Dussen then joined Markram in the middle and the duo ensured that before the tea break, the side did not experience further hiccups and Proteas’ score read 84/1 at the interval, only trailing the hosts by 74 runs.

Both Dussen and Markram improved the pace of their scoring in the final session of the day and this took Pakistan’s bowlers off the radar for a bit. The bowlers were held at bay by both batsmen, and Pakistan was left looking for answers. However, Shah dismissed Dussen (64) just on the cusp of stumps on day three, breaking the second-wicket partnership of 127 runs.

Shortly thereafter, Faf du Plessis (10) was caught by Shah in front of the wickets, and Markram was sent back by Nauman Ali to the pavilion, and as a consequence, four Proteas were down before stumps.

The management of Proteas agreed to send nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj and he and skipper Quinton de Kock ensured that before the close of the match, the visitors did not lose further wickets.