CAPE TOWN: Pakistan captain Shan Masood etched his name in the history books with a phenomenal 145-run knock during his team’s second innings in the ongoing second Test against South Africa at Newlands on Monday.
Masood’s innings shattered a 27-year-old record for the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter in a Test match on South African soil.
He surpassed the previous record held by former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who scored 136 runs in a Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, in February 1998.
The skipper’s knock, which featured 17 boundaries, spearheaded Pakistan’s fightback after being forced to follow on.
Renowned players like Azhar Mahmood, Younis Khan, Taufeeq Umar, Saeed Anwar and Asad Shafiq have previously scored Test centuries in South Africa but never more than one in a series.
Highest Individual Scores by Pakistani Batters in South Africa (Tests):
- Shan Masood – 145, Cape Town, January 2025
- Azhar Mahmood – 136, Johannesburg, February 1998
- Taufeeq Umar – 135, Cape Town, January 2003
- Azhar Mahmood – 132, Durban, February 1998
- Saeed Anwar – 118, Durban, February 1998
The opening batter also became the first Pakistan captain to score a Test century in South Africa.
Previously, Saleem Malik held the record for the highest score by a Pakistani captain on South African soil with his 99-run innings in January 1995.
Thanks to Masood’s remarkable century, Pakistan mounted a spirited fightback in their second innings.
The visitors were bowled out for a mere 194 in their first innings in response to South Africa’s imposing total of 615, which led the hosts to enforce the follow-on.
Masood’s stellar knock, combined with Babar Azam’s valuable 81 runs, propelled Pakistan past the 400-run mark in their second innings. They are now more than 50 runs ahead of South Africa's 615-run total.
