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It was a day of domination for South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on Day 2 after they amassed 615 with the bat before picking up three top-order Pakistan wickets to have the visitors reeling at 64 for 3 at Stumps.
All the headlines would be about Ryan Rickelton who scored 259 – his maiden double ton – in his first ever game as an opener for South Africa. Kyle Verreynne also breached the three-figure mark while Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj played quickfire knocks of 62 and 40 to heap more misery on the tourists.
Jansen was on 58 after Tea and crunched a boundary before departing against the run of play. Maharaj then took the onus of the innings and with nothing to lose, picked apart Salman Ali Agha in an 18-run over. The batter took the hosts past 600 with two boundaries. Maharaj fell to a half-hearted hook shot which he toe-ended to the ‘keeper before Mohammad Abbas picked up his 100th Test wicket as he castled debutant Kwena Maphaka’s stumps.
This was followed by fiery opening spells from Kagiso Rabada and Jansen. The visitors got off to the worst possible start as skipper Shan Masood nicked one to David Bedingham at first slip. Despite Kamran Ghulam playing his shots and scoring two early boundaries, Jansen got the better of him as he got the batter to chop one on back to his stumps. Ever reliable for Pakistan Saud Shakeel, fell for nought as the hosts tightened the screws around Pakistan.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan took the visitors to stumps with an unbeaten 44-run stand.
Earlier, at the start of play, Rickelton managed to blunt the new ball which was due immediately at the start of play but the visitors struck early with the wicket of David Bedingham. The left-hander moved to 199 as he drove one past the mid-off fielder for four before he took a single off the next ball to bring up his 200 in 266 deliveries.
Verreyne survived a DRS appeal for LBW when he was on five as the ball was going down leg on wickets and then hit a six to take them past the 350-run mark. In the second session, the two batters plundered a six each to get the scoreboard moving.
Verreynne moved to 99 with a sublime pull to mid-wicket before he moved to the three-figure mark with a single. His joy was, however, short-lived as he holed out to deep-mid wicket after attempting a slog-sweep.
It was then the turn of Jansen who despite taking eleven deliveries to get off the mark, wasn’t beaten on any of his first 10 deliveries. Once he got underway, he began to deal in quick boundaries, punishing Abbas for straying on his line.
Jansen continued his assault in Shahzad’s next over as he scored 15 in the over, quickly moving to 48. This was sandwiched by Rickelton getting to the 250-mark before the right-handed Jansen brought up his fifty off 42 balls – the fastest by any South African against Pakistan. But two overs before the Tea break, Rickelton after scoring a couple of boundaries played a tired shot as he holed out to long-on on 259 – the fourth highest individual score by a South African in Tests.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 615 (Ryan Rickelton 259, Temba Bavuma 106, Kyle Verreynne 100; Mohammad Abbas 3-94, Salman Ali Agha 3-148) lead Pakistan 64/3 (Babar Azam 31*, Kamran Ghulam 12; Kagiso Rabada 2-9, Marco Jansen 1-14) by 551 runs.
Cricket fans were treated to a spectacle as the South Africa National Cricket Team faced off against the Pakistan National Cricket Team in a much-anticipated match. The game delivered on every front, featuring spectacular performances from players on both sides. Here’s a closer look at the action-packed encounter.
Kyle Verreynne’s Standout Performance
South African wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was a star of the match, showcasing his batting prowess with a composed yet aggressive innings. His ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries kept the scoreboard ticking and added vital runs to South Africa’s total. Verreynne’s innings was a testament to his growing stature in international cricket.
Mohammad Rizwan: Pakistan’s Reliable Anchor
On the Pakistan side, Mohammad Rizwan once again proved why he is considered one of the most consistent players in modern cricket. His calm demeanor and sharp cricketing acumen helped stabilize Pakistan’s innings, especially during challenging phases. Rizwan’s ability to adapt to the situation made him a key figure in Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Kagiso Rabada: The Fiery Paceman
South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada turned up the heat with his fiery spells. Rabada’s pace, precision, and ability to extract movement off the pitch troubled the Pakistani batters throughout the match. His knack for taking crucial wickets at the right time proved instrumental in tilting the game in South Africa’s favor.
Shan Masood’s Resilience
Pakistan’s Shan Masood played a vital role in anchoring the innings amidst the South African bowlers’ relentless attack. His gritty knock demonstrated his ability to handle pressure and his importance to the team in high-stakes matches. Masood’s innings, though not enough to secure victory, earned him praise for his resilience.
A Look at the Scorecard
The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team match scorecard reflected the closely contested nature of the game. South Africa posted a competitive total, thanks to contributions from Verreynne and their top order. Pakistan responded strongly, with Rizwan and Masood leading the charge, but fell short in the final overs.
Conclusion
The match was a thrilling contest between two highly skilled sides. While South Africa emerged victorious, the fight put up by Pakistan was commendable. Performances by stars like Kyle Verreynne, Mohammad Rizwan, Kagiso Rabada, and Shan Masood highlighted the depth of talent in both teams.
Cricket fans eagerly await the next chapter in the rivalry between these cricketing giants, as each match promises unforgettable moments and fierce competition.
News Credit @crickbuzz
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