Cape Town (Web Desk): South Africa managed to regain control after a challenging start on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town, on Friday.
Despite early breakthroughs from Pakistan’s bowlers, including dismissals of Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, and Tristan Stubbs, the hosts recovered well in the afternoon session. By the time the tea break arrived, South Africa had reached 184/3, with Ryan Rickelton (106*) and Temba Bavuma (51*) remaining unbeaten and firmly anchoring the innings.
The pair of Rickelton and Bavuma proved difficult for Pakistan to break, adding 112 runs in the second session without losing a wicket.
Rickelton, in particular, was in fine form, scoring his second Test century and playing an elegant knock filled with 14 boundaries. Bavuma, steady as ever, supported him well with his 51 runs, which included six boundaries.
The South African innings had started promisingly, with Rickelton and Markram forming a solid opening partnership of 61 runs.
However, Markram was dismissed for 17 when he was caught behind off Khurram Shahzad. Wiaan Mulder, making his return to the team after injury, didn’t last long, scoring just five runs before falling to Abbas.
Things took another turn when Agha Salman removed Tristan Stubbs for a duck, reducing South Africa to 72/3.
With Rickelton and Bavuma holding firm through the afternoon, the home team looked set to capitalize on the strong partnership.
Pakistan’s bowlers, including Shahzad, Abbas, and Agha, had each claimed a wicket but could not break the resolve of the South African pair.
The match was particularly important for the hosts, who were leading the series 1-0 after a hard-fought victory in the first Test at Centurion.
Teams
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (Capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, 1Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka
Pakistan: Shan Masood (Capt), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza
