South Africa dominated Pakistan in the second Test at Newlands, bowling them out for 194 and enforcing a follow-on, leading by 421 runs. Pakistan’s batting collapse followed a promising partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both of whom were dismissed under pressure. Ryan Rickelton’s stellar performance earlier provided South Africa with a significant lead, reinforcing their critical standing in the World Test Championship.
In an unfortunate turn of events for Pakistan, their cricket team was bowled out for just 194 runs, prompting South Africa to enforce the follow-on during the second Test match at Newlands. This placed Pakistan at a significant first-innings deficit of 421 runs, a difficult position as they entered the third day of the match. A noteworthy partnership of 98 between Babar Azam, who scored 58 runs, and Mohammad Rizwan with 46 runs, previously appeared promising, but their dismissals led to a swift collapse of the batting lineup.
The breakthrough came from debutant Kwena Maphaka, who dismissed Babar shortly after the morning drinks interval, resulting in a catch by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. Mohammad Rizwan was the next to go, falling victim to Wiaan Mulder as he attempted a risky charge down the pitch, ultimately edging the ball into his stumps. The absence of injured opener Saim Ayub further compromised Pakistan’s batting efforts, leading to minimal resistance from the remaining players.
During the preceding day of play, South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton had exhibited remarkable performance, scoring 259 runs, a feat that ranks as the joint seventh-highest score by a South African cricketer in Test history. His substantial contribution, featuring 29 fours and three sixes over 343 balls, placed South Africa in a commanding position with 566 runs by tea on the second day.
This Test match follows a closely contested previous encounter at Centurion, where South Africa edged out Pakistan by two wickets, thus qualifying them for the World Test Championship final. The dramatic nature of that game included a frantic finish reminiscent of a Twenty20 match, allowing a narrow victory for South Africa after considerable upheaval prior to lunch.
The match at Newlands marks another chapter in the ongoing competition between Pakistan and South Africa, two teams with rich cricketing histories. Pakistan has struggled to maintain consistent performances in recent years, especially in conditions demanding effective batting strategies. Conversely, South Africa has shown resilience and skill, evidenced by their high scoring and strategic bowling efforts. This particular Test holds significance not only for its immediate outcome but also for team rankings and historical context within the World Test Championship framework.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s batting collapse and South Africa’s solid performance underscore the challenges faced by the visiting team. South Africa’s enforcement of the follow-on after a compelling innings establishes them firmly in control. The match results will likely influence both teams’ standings as they navigate through the World Test Championship, highlighting pivotal moments such as Ryan Rickelton’s exceptional innings and the impact of key dismissals in the Pakistani lineup.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
