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Babar Azam scores 16 in 2nd Test vs South Africa, dismissed by Tony de Zorzi’s catch at Gaddafi Stadium as Test struggles persist.
Babar Azam was dismissed for just 16 runs against South Africa (Picture credit: AP)
Ace Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s poor run in Tests continued as he could manage just 16 runs in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa, as he fell to a brilliant catch at silly point. Tony de Zorzi took a blinder as the star batter had to depart for a low score.
The 56th over of the day, bowled by Keshav Maharaj to Babar, had everything: tension, skill and drama. It started with an inside edge that brought no runs, followed by a cut shot off a short, wide ball for none.
The third ball gripped and beat Babar’s forward defence, while the fourth saw him push into the off side for two runs. Next ball, Maharaj struck him on the pad, prompting a loud appeal that the umpire turned down.
South Africa reviewed, but UltraEdge revealed a spike, giving Babar a lifeline. His luck, however, ran out just one ball later, thanks to a moment of brilliance from De Zorzi at silly point.
Maharaj tossed one up on a fuller length and Babar, trying to defend without reaching the pitch, ended up popping it in the air. De Zorzi dived to his right and plucked a brilliant one-handed catch, leaving Babar stunned as he walked back for a 22-ball 16.
Maharaj himself dropped Shafique on 15 off his own bowling and then saw Aiden Markram drop the same batter on 41 and 53.
By the end of 2022, Babar was averaging 49.25, having scored 3,645 runs in 45 Tests. However, in his subsequent 16 games (with one innings still ongoing), he has managed just 846 runs at 28.2, dragging his career average down to 42.31.
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Babar has gone 29 Test innings without a hundred. His last Test century came in December 2022 against New Zealand in Karachi.
October 20, 2025, 18:54 IST
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