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Openers Shan Masood and Babar Azam stood resolute as Pakistan went to tea on 80 without loss in their second innings against South Africa at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.
Pakistan resumed after lunch with their total on 155 for six but lasted just another 35 minutes after the resumption of play as Kagiso Rabada (3-55), Kwena Maphaka (2-43) and Keshav Maharaj (2-14) cleaned-up as the visitors were bundled out for 194 – a first innings deficit of 421.
Pakistan are a batsman short after opener Saim Ayub fractured his ankle on day one and is out of the Test.
Rabada bounced Aamer Jamal (5), who top-edged to David Bedingham at first slip, who then took a great catch at short leg from the bowling of Maharaj to dismiss Mir Hamza for 13. Khurram Shahzad was the last wicket to fall, being caught at point by Tristan Stubbs from the bowling of Maphaka.
Masood, who faced 54 balls for his unbeaten 37, including six boundaries, batted well with Babar as the pair faced 105 balls for their unbroken opening stand of 80. Babar faced 51 deliveries himself, with four fours.
The third morning began with Pakistan on 64 for three with Babar and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease. The pair of experienced top-order men navigated the first hour of play, taking the visitors to 116 for three and their partnership to 96.
However, shortly after the drinks break, Maphaka struck to the joyous rapture of the Cape faithful. Maphaka charged down the pitch in absolute ecstasy as Babar stood forlornly – unable to comprehend being caught down the leg side.
With just half an hour to go before the third day’s lunch break, Mulder (11-0-44-1), who had been targeting the middle stump all morning, bowled a little wider and Rizwan, who had faced 82 deliveries, eyed the opportunity to clobber the ball down the ground, only to send the ball onto his own stumps, after striking two fours and a six.
Shortly before the lunch break, Verreynne displayed incredible hand-speed as he whipped the bails off from a Keshav Maharaj (3-1-2-1) delivery that turned past the outside edge of Slaman Agha’s bat. Agha’s foot was in the air and had to walk for a 22-ball 19.
South Africa’s first innings had come to an end after tea on the second day, having being bowled out for 615 after winning the toss and batting first on Friday. Ryan Rickelton’s masterful 259 from 343 balls included 29 boundaries and three maximums.
Rickelton’s fourth-wicket stand with captain Temba Bavuma (106) of 235 was the highest 4th-wicket stand at Newlands, beating the previous best between Les Ames and Wally Hammond for England back in 1938/39.
The stand was an important one as Pakistan had reduced the home side to 72 for three at lunch on the opening day. Aiden Markram (17) had provided an solid opening stand with Rickelton of 61 but then Khurram Shahzad (25-4-123-2) had Markram edging through to Rizwan behind the stumps.
Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) fell in quick succession to Mohammad Abbas (27.3-1-94-3) and spinner Salman Agha (38-4-148-3) respectively. Bavuma fell shortly before the end of play on day one with Bedingham (5) and Rickelton taking their side to the close with South Africa on 316 for four.
Bedingham fell early on the second morning with Abbas and Rizwan combining again only for Verryenne (100) and Rickelton to pile on the pressure further with a 6th-wicket stand of 148. Verreynne’s aggression was evident throughout as the wicketkeeper cracked nine fours and five sixes from 147 balls.
Marco Jansen (62) and Mahraj (40) added further insult to injury. Jansen and Rickelton first added 86 runs for the 7th-wicket from only 67 deliveries while Maharaj dominated the 9th-wicket stand of 42 with Kagiso Rabada (6 not out) from 32 balls.
The Proteas had Pakistan in deep trouble as Rabada (11-3-28-2) and Jansen (12-4-36-1) reduced the visitors to 20 for three. Rabada had Shan Masood (2) caught at first slip by Bedingham and then Jansen had Kamran Ghulam playing on for 12.
Rabada and Bedingham combined again to see the back of Saud Shakeel for a 6-ball duck. But Babar and Rizwan knuckled down and took their side to the close of day two without any further damage.
