Babar Azam, Shan Masood combine to break all-time Test record during follow-on , stage Pakistan's comeback against South Africa in Cape Town

Babar Azam, Shan Masood combine to break all-time Test record during follow-on , stage Pakistan's comeback against South Africa in Cape Town
Pakistan's Babar Azam (L) and captain Shan Masood (R) celebrate their 200 runs partnership during the third day of the second international Test against South Africa at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on January 5.

Highlights:

Babar Azam departed after scoring 81 runs.

Shan Masood became second Pakistan captain to score a century while following-on.

Masood and Babar shared Pakistan's highest partnership for any wicket while following-on.

In the absence of an injured Saim Ayub who has been taken to London for treatment, Babar Azam opened the innings with captain Shan Masood. Babar and Masood put up a fight against the Proteas after the hosts enforced a follow-on at Newlands, Cape Town. On Day 3 of the second Test of the series, Babar and Masood shared the highest opening partnership by an opening pair when the opposition has enforced follow on. They shared a 205-run opening partnership and broke the record by just one run. 

The previous record belonged to South Africa's Graeme Smith and Neil Mckenzie. They shared a 204-run partnership against England at Lord's in 2008.  

Masood and Babar's partnership is also the second-best for any wicket against South Africa in Tests. The top spot belongs to Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan who shared a 219-run partnership at Cape Town in 2013.

The previous highest partnership by a Pakistan pair for any wicket while following-on was 154. Hanif Mohammad and Saeed Ahmed shared the 154-run stand against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1958.

Babar misses century

The partnership was eventually broken by left-arm pacer Marco Jansen as Babar went for a booming drive and handed a regulation catch in the slips to David Bedingham. Babar scored 81 runs from 124 balls including 10 fours. This was his third consecutive half-century on the tour. The openers batted for 46.2 overs after Pakistan were bowled out for 194 in the first innings in 54.2 overs.

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Masood's milestone as captain

Masood went on to score century. He became the third Pakistan captain to score a century as an opener. Saeed Anwar scored 149 against New Zealand in 1996. Two years later, Aamer Sohail scored 133 against Australia in 1998.

The only other Pakistan captain to score a century while following-on is Saleem Malik. In 1994, Malik scored 237 against Australia in Rawalpindi.

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Ryan Rickelton's record

Earlier, opener Ryan Rickleton registered the second-highest score by a South Africa batter against Pakistan in Tests. Rickelton scored 259 runs from 343 balls. The record belongs to AB de Villiers with an unbeaten 278 in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Apart from Rickelton, Pakistan captain Temba Bavuma and wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne's centuries helped hosts post 615 on the board.