Pakistan openers fight back after Proteas enforce the follow-on

Having been set a mammoth 615 target by South Africa in their first innings, Pakistan's batting lineup barely provided a murmur as they were skittled for just 194 on a flat, batter-friendly wicket on day three at Newlands in the second Test.

Azam top-scored in the first innings with 58 off 127 balls while Mohammed Rizwan also looked good before giving his wicket away on 46.

None of the other batters got above 20, with the wickets being shared around South Africa's bowlers. Kagiso Rabada was the pick with 3/55 from his 15 overs.

Keshav Maharaj also looked good with his 2/14 and there were even a couple of scalps for debutant Kwena Mapaka, who finished the first innings with figures of 2/43 from his eight overs.

However, the second innings was another story entirely as Masood and Azam barely looked in trouble as they helped Pakistan race to 205 by the fall of the first wicket - shattering the previous record for an opening partnership for Pakistan against South Africa.

The flat deck provided little assistance to the South African bowlers, who were also less disciplined with their lines and lengths and struggled with overstepping.

It was particularly telling late on the day when South Africa thought Rabada might have trapped Masood out LBW but any thought of a review was squashed when the umpire's arm extended to indicate yet another no-ball.

Rabada looked the most threatening of the South African bowlers but even he only managed to produce the odd play and miss. Keshav Maharaj got a bit of turn out of the left-hander's foot marks but nothing to really cause either of Pakistan's bowlers a bit of bother.

Azam was eventually dismissed by Marco Jansen on 81 and Pakistan reached 213/1 by the end of the third day.

At 208 runs behind, there is still a long way to go before Pakistan can even think about making South Africa bat again but they have definitely made the best possible start.