Babar Azam stepped up once we misplaced Saim: Shan Masood hails Pakistan’s fightback
Pakistan captain Shan Masood hailed Babar Azam for stepping up within the absence of Saim Ayub. The teen fractured his proper ankle and was stretchered off halfway by the second Take a look at between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands in Cape City. Babar scored two fifties within the New 12 months’s Take a look at, however his efforts weren’t sufficient to assist Pakistan safe a win. Since Pakistan had been taking part in with simply 10 gamers, Masood praised Babar for his resilience.
“It was unlucky that Babar obtained out to a shot that he performs very well. His character, stepping up and elevating his hand once we misplaced Saim to open the innings and rating back-to-back fifties, these are issues that please you greater than something. There have been some traits from loads of people on this workforce who’ve stepped up each time required,” Shan Masood stated within the post-match presentation.
SA vs PAK 2nd Take a look at: Match report
Babar Azam impresses
Babar scored 58 within the first innings and a fluent 81 within the second. He shared a document partnership with Shan Masood whereas opening for the primary time in Assessments for Pakistan. The opening pair stitched a 205-run partnership within the second innings, after Pakistan was compelled to observe on, having crumbled to only 194 whereas chasing South Africa’s mammoth first-innings complete of 615 runs.
Regardless of Pakistan’s fightback within the second innings, the place they posted 478 runs, it wasn’t sufficient. South Africa solely wanted to chase a modest goal of 57 runs, which they did with ease in simply 7.1 overs.
Masood identified that the workforce wanted to capitalise on essential moments, one thing they couldn’t do in each Assessments regardless of giving a tricky combat.
“A whole lot of good issues. We did very properly in Centurion, however didn’t shut it out within the crunch conditions. Credit score to South Africa there. Even right here, we didn’t begin properly, each with bat and ball. We conceded too many runs initially, after which with the bat, we folded fairly early on what was a extremely battable wicket. It was a very nice floor, one thing that shocked everybody. The fightback after that—these are the responses you search for. Individually, individuals stepped up, and as a workforce, we stepped up in lots of moments. We have to learn to win the essential moments,” he added.
