Pakistan break 123-year-old record, Team India couldn’t achieve THIS but…
The Pakistan Cricket Team made history by breaking a 123-year-old record during the second Test against South Africa at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. The visitors became the first team to accomplish a rare feat after being asked to follow-on by the hosts. Captain Shan Masood played a memorable innings, scoring 145, which included a 205-run opening partnership with Babar Azam.
The Pakistan cricket team etched their name in history with a remarkable comeback in the second Test against South Africa, currently underway at the picturesque Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Skipper Shan Masood and former captain Babar Azam played pivotal roles in this extraordinary performance.
Leading 1-0 and already secured a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final, South Africa had a dream outing with the bat in the first innings after winning the toss. The hosts posted a massive total of 615, with Ryan Rickleton playing a sensational knock of 259. Skipper Temba Bavuma and wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne also contributed with centuries.
In response, the visitors were bowled out for a mere 194, despite a half-century from Babar Azam. With a commanding 421-run lead, South Africa opted to enforce the follow-on. Pakistan showed significant improvement in their second innings, with Masood and Babar forming a historic 205-run partnership—the highest by an opening pair in Test history. Shan Masood scored a brilliant 145, while Babar Azam was dismissed for 81.
Pakistan Breaks 123-Year-Old Record
On Day 4, Pakistan ensured South Africa would have to bat again in the fourth innings to secure victory after surpassing their first-innings lead. The Asian side posted a total of 478 runs, leaving the home team with a challenging task.
With their remarkable performance in the second innings, Pakistan broke a 123-year-old record previously held by the Australian cricket team for the highest total by a visiting team in South Africa while following on. Under Shan Masood’s leadership, Pakistan became the first team in cricket history to score 400 runs in a follow-on innings in South Africa against the host nation.
Most runs in South Africa by a visiting team in a follow-On innings
| Team | Total | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 478 | 2025 | Cape Town |
| Australia | 372/7 | 1902 | Johannesburg |
| West Indies | 348/10 | 2004 | Centurion |
| New Zealand | 342/10 | 2000 | Bloemfontein |
| Sri Lanka | 342/10 | 2012 | Cape Town |
Pakistan’s total of 478 in their follow-on innings is now the highest by a visiting team in South Africa, surpassing Australia’s previous record of 372/7 in 1902. This remarkable feat has also placed Pakistan alongside India in holding the record for the highest score in a follow-on innings, both teams having posted 657 against the West Indies (Barbados, 1958) and Australia (Kolkata, 2001).
Pakistan’s score of 478 is the second-highest ever in a follow-on innings on South African soil, following only South Africa’s own 572 against England in Durban in 1999.
Furthermore, Pakistan became only the third team in cricket history to overcome a first-innings deficit of 400 runs while following on, joining the ranks of their 1958 achievement against the West Indies (473) in Barbados and South Africa’s 400-run deficit against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2002.