Twitter Reactions: Late Pakistan surge keeps match in check after splendid Marco Jansen outing

Resuming the day on 88/3 trailing by two runs, Pakistan would have been keen on extending their lead to set a substantial target for the hosts to chase. Play got underway after a four-hour rain delay.

Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam looked quite comfortable against Kagiso Rabada, in particular. Babar got to his first Test half-century since December 2022. The feat was understandably met with copious applause from the Pakistani dressing room, and understandably so.

However, it was the very next over itself that Marco Jansen scalped Babar. Mohammad Rizwan and then Salman Agha didn't last long. The two batters were caught by wicketkeeper-batter, Kyle Verreynne, to grant Jansen yet another five-wicket haul in Test cricket.   

Aamer Jamal was looking good. However, he and then Naseem Shah departed to leave South Africa with the upper hand at Tea. With two wickets in the shed, the post-Tea session had Shakeel farming the strike and being more deliberate with his strokeplay. However, the show didn't last long. Jansen completely deceived the left-handed set batter from left-arm round-the-wicket to rap him on the pads.

Corbin Bosch dismissed Mohammad Abbas to bring the Pakistan innings to a close. Regardless of the abundance of time left, a 148-run target was going to be a tricky one for the hosts. The first two wickets were quick to fall; both LBWs of deliveries angling in to Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton, respectively. 

Abbas dismissed Tristan Stubbs as the Proteas slumped further. Skipper, Aiden Markram, ended the day with an eight-run over. However, the match hangs in the balance with a lot of action expected on Day 4 of the game.

Check out how X reacted to Day 3 of the first Test between SA and PAK:

#SAvsPAK super spicy 🔥

— Amitabh Surinder (@SC2741420912421) December 28, 2024

Fascinating day of test cricket 🏏 coming up tomorrow. 3 out of 4 teams' fates for the #WTCFinal hang in the balance where the 4th team can really ruin the chances of one team which has all the ingredients to choke under crunch situations.#AUSvIND #AUSvINDIA #SAvPAK #SAvsPAK

— Khurram Khalili (@khurram_khalili) December 28, 2024

First time rooting for #Pakistan. #SA will be Allout on 96 run. #SAvsPak#PAKvsSA

— Satvinder Meel (@s4sattu) December 28, 2024

South Africa 🇿🇦 vs Pakistan 🇵🇰, Centurion - 1st Test
Day 3 on stumps: South Africa 🇿🇦 27*-3, 301 (First innings | Pakistan 🇵🇰 237.

To win the Test match and level the series:

South Africa: need 121 runs to win
Pakistan: need 7 wickets to win#SAvsPAK #PAKvsSA #Cricket pic.twitter.com/gsIG87HyUO

— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) December 28, 2024

Ab tumhare hawale watan (South Africa) saathiyon 🥹🥹🥹🥹 , pls haar mat jaana kal #SAvsPAK #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/evS2eqtC1z

— SRKIAN (@SRK_Arlo) December 28, 2024

Saved by the light... for now!

The proteas struggling against quality bowling. Speaks volumes about the lack of swing on the domestic scene, top order looked inept.

Hopefully Temba and Aiden can put their hands up tomorrow!#SAvsPAK #CricketTwitter #BoxingDayTest

— BoiMaam (@BoiMaamGG) December 28, 2024

Attacking the Stumps more often is best way to use New ball unlike the #Proteas bowling largely good length outside off stump or short, rarely a Yorker even to tail enders#SAvPAK #SAvsPAK #BoxingDayTest

— Kiran Kumar (@kirankumar2210) December 28, 2024

What a come back 🇵🇰👏
.#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #AUSvINDIA #AUSvsIND #Australia #India #Kohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #SAvsPAK #PAKvsSA #PAKvSA #Cricket #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/l9evZ4DVB7

— AD Choudhary (@adchoudhray) December 28, 2024

Day 3 stumps.
Pakistan need 7 wickets to win.
Proteas need 121 runs to win with 7 wickets in hand. #PAKvsSA #SAvPAK #SAvsPAK

— Shahbaz Ammad (@shahbazammad56) December 28, 2024