Cricket: Pakistan Crumbles Against South Africa at Newlands, Follow-on Enforced

Pakistan's cricket team suffered a batting collapse on the third day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands, succumbing to a heavy defeat. The visitors were bowled out for 194, allowing South Africa to enforce the follow-on. This marked a turning point in the match, as Pakistan sought to mount a comeback, but their batting order showed minimal resistance.

The combined efforts of Imam-ul-Haq (19) and captain Abdullah Shafique, who was absent due to an injury, were crucial in staving off an early collapse. However, the absence of Shafique was keenly felt, and his partnering duo of Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan showed a hint of solidity but ultimately failed to withstand the South African onslaught. Maphaka, a debutant, and Mulder contributed significantly to the all-out team effort by South Africa to limit Pakistan's scoring chance. The bowlers capitalized on Pakistan's faltering batting order with aggressive, tightly pitched line and length, inducing weaknesses in the bat – making scoring very difficult.

Babar Azam's valiant effort 58 runs stood tall amidst wickets falling on the other end and not yielding resilience to the cricket unit. However, once his crucial partnership with Rizwan was broken, the batting lack resistance effectively giving a thumbs up to South Africa through an epitome backbone. Rizwan's methodical 46 runs didn't get much room to maneuver with all the rapid turns of the passage of game uniquely a all-out team show from South Africa.

Pakistan will now look to regroup for the final innings of the Test, but the task appears daunting, with South Africa enjoying a commanding lead of 421 runs. The visitors will have to draw on their experience and skillset to prevent a second consecutive Test defeat and salvage at least a consolation result. For now, however, it seems like they face an uphill task.

The Pakistan and South Africa Test series, which has witnessed some spectacular cricket so far, is expected to have its final chapter written in the coming days. It will be intriguing to see how the visitors manage to restore their honor and pull off a comeback victory, if at all they achieve this