DAY 2: Proteas pummel Pakistan for tea-time domination

South Africa cashed in on some tired Pakistan bowling as they went to tea on 566 for seven in the second test at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Rickelton, who began the day on 176, eventually gave way for a magnificent 259 while Kylle Verreynne sped his way to 100 while Marco Jansen bludgeoned his way to a third test half-century.

The Pakistan bowling attack toiled through two tough sessions as the home side added 113 runs to their overnight total of 316 for four and then adding a further 137 runs in the post-lunch session.

Rickelton had been the anchor through the day as Verreynne crunched nine fours and five sixes in a 147-ball innings that enabled the pair to add 148 runs for the sixth wicket. However, once Verreynne moved to his ton, he slog-swept Salman Agha (36-4-129-3) out towards the deep mid-wicket fence, only to find Amir Jamal’s safe hands.

The loss of Verreynne only brought more pain to the Pakistan effort as Jansen crashed seven boundaries and three maximums from 49 balls to go to tea on an unbeaten 57, adding a quick-fire 86 for the seventh wicket from only 67 balls with Rickelton.

But Rickelton, looking to accelerate the innings before tea, eventually holed out to Mohammad Abbas at long-on from the bowling of Mir Hamza (27-3-104-1) after spending 615 minutes at the crease, striking 29 boundaries and three sixes after facing 343 balls.

Jansen and Keshav Maharaj (2 not out) carried their side to the tea-break with an unbroken stand of nine.

Rickelton had begun the morning on 176, and moved to his double-ton off 266 balls – the fourth-fastest for South Africa. He and Verreynne, pummelled the Pakistan bowling after the early loss of David Bedingham for just five, edging Abbas (27-1-93-2) to Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps.

Verreynne survived two leg-before appeals despite Pakistan reviewing and brought up their 100-run stand in 1-01 minutes just before the lunch break.

South Africa had won the toss on the first morning, electing to bat first and found themselves in a slight bother. Pakistan won the opening session, leaving the Proteas on 72 for three with Rickelton standing firm on an unbeaten 50.

Rickelton and Aiden Markram gave the home side a steady start with an opening stand of 61 but then Markram edged Khurram Shahzad (21-3-90-1) behind to Rizwan for 17 before Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs(0) edged Abbas and Agha (25-2-77-2) behind to Rizwan respectively.

Despite the setback, Rickleton was joined at the crease post lunch by Temba Bavuma and the pair completely dominated the first day’s play, adding 235 for the fourth wicket – the highest stand for the fourth wicket at Newlands, a record that had stood since 1938/39 when Wally Hammond and Les Ames added 197 for England.

Bavuma’s 106 came from 1790 deliveries and included nine boundaries and two maximums which resulted in a passionate celebration in the middle. Agha though got reward for his patience outside the offstump, when Bavuma played at a ball that went straight on, edging through to Rizwan behind the stumps.

Bedingham and Rickelton played out the last few overs of the first day, adding nine unbeaten runs at the close.

SOUTH AFRICA: Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.

PAKISTAN: Shan Masood (capt), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad.