Cape Town [South Africa], January 6: On Day 3 of the second Test match against South Africa, Babar Azam was put on the crease and left “disappointed” as he attempted to understand the shot he had struck.

On a benign surface of Newlands, Babar was about to end his Test century absence. Babar has been waiting for his next three-digit score in red-ball cricket since he hit a century against New Zealand in 2022.

The stars seemed to have finally come together in Babar’s favor, allowing him to achieve his goal of scoring his tenth Test century. When Babar’s unrelenting focus momentarily faltered, his achievements were undone with fifteen minutes remaining in the day.

He finally discovered a thick outside edge when he attempted a booming cover drive. Bedingham, who was positioned in the gully, showed his quick reactions by going low in an instant to capture a stunner. When South Africa at last achieved the much-needed breakthrough, Marco Jansen rejoiced.

Babar’s shot choice determined how he was dismissed even in the first innings. Debutant Kwena Maphaka enticed him to give wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne an advantage.

Babar eventually succumbed to despair, saying, “I’m very dissatisfied with both innings. Although I got off to a good start, I didn’t end well,” he stated. “You have to go much greater if you settle. I was a little irritated because of this. According to ESPNcricinfo, he said, “There were only fifteen minutes remaining.”

Babar and Pakistani supporters found the discharge to be more upsetting, particularly because he and his countryman Shan Masood were not in danger from South Africa.

“Centurion and this place have distinct circumstances. You don’t anticipate that [the pitch would be that flat] when you go to South Africa. It was a little difficult with the new ball, but it became easier as you got comfortable and formed a connection,” he remarked.

Babar was somewhat relieved that he had finally achieved a fifty in the format after two years, even if he had missed out on a century. Babar has been steadily improving since the second innings of the first Test match in Centurion, hitting three consecutive fifties in the same number of innings.

All of his dismissals, however, were due to either a lack of focus or a shot that wasn’t the finest choice made during that delivery.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t capitalize throughout our relationship, even though I should have. My collaboration with Shan has allowed us to somewhat regain the game in the second innings,” he said.