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DAY 4: Proteas trounce Pakistan to win series 2-0

general06 January 2025 18:16| © MWP
By:Brendon Atwell
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South Africa cruised to a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan late on the fourth day of the second test to seal the two-match series 2-0 at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Monday afternoon.

The Proteas had been set a target of 58 which David Bedingham and Aiden Markram knocked off in just 22 minutes and 7.1 overs as Bedingham cracked an unbeaten 47 from only 30 balls with five boundaries and two sixes while Markram ended on 14 not out.

“The guys are encouraged to be themselves for example, Bedingham showed that in the second innings – that was him being himself. The coaching staff must get the credit for that,” said South Africa’s captain at the post-match press conference.

Bedingham opened the batting with Markram as Ryan Rickelton spent most of the Pakistan innings in the dressing room, and could only bat after two hours or if the Proteas were five wickets down.

Pakistan had eked out a lead of 57 after being bowled out for 478 midway through the final session on day four. The Proteas toiled for 122.1 overs, finally removing the last abled Pakistan batsman, Mir Hamza, for 16. Saim Ayub was unable to bat in both innings due to his ankle fracture on day one.

“The ball is not going to go sideways like it does at Centurion, you are going to have to put in the work. But it is satisfying when you come out on top of those challenges,” said Temba Bavuma.

It was a valiant effort from the visiting side, facing a first innings deficit of 421 after being dismantled for 194 in their first innings and being asked to follow on. Captain Shan Masood (145) and Babar Azam (81) had provided the perfect platform for the fightback with a record-breaking opening stand of 205, beating the previous best of 137 set by Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat back in 2002-03.

Babar gave his wicket away shortly before the close on day three, driving at a wide delivery from Marco Jansen (24-0-101-2) only to be caught by Bedingham in the gully region as Pakistan ended the third day on 213 for one.

“The guys hold themselves well through those testing times, guys weren’t sulking and when guys got the opportunity with the ball they tried their best, just like the guys in the field,” stated Bavuma.

Pakistan lost two wickets on the fourth morning, with Jansen having nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad (18) caught at backward point by Keshav Maharaj. Kagiso Rabada (25.1-2-115-3) then castled Kamran Ghulam after a defiant 28 as Pakistan went to lunch on 312 for three, still 109 in arrears.

The middle session was again a balanced affair as Masood, who spent 371 minutes at the crease, facing 251 deliveries and striking 17 boundaries, kept the Proteas attack at bay. However, Rabada struck with the new ball, having Saud Shakeel edging to Markram at first slip for 23.

“Some phases of the game we let the game slip towards the opposition and then it normally takes some form of brilliance to kind of bring it back. When you play top sides, you cannot allow that,” said Bavuma.

Then came the moment of the innings when Kwena Maphaka (13-0-47-1) trapped the Pakistan captain in front, only to be turned down by the umpire. South Africa reviewed successfully and Masood had to walk – although unimpressed with the Hawk Eye imaging.

“It’s simple from my end, it was an outswinger. The ball that beat me before jagged away a long way. I was beaten on the outside edge and it was shown as an inswinger. I didn’t get hit where Hak Eye was showing it. I was hit more on the outside of the leg but it was shown as hitting on the inside of the leg,” said Masood after the match.

“I was baffled by that to be honest,” added the Pakistan captain.

Mohammed Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) carried Pakistan to tea with the total on 398 for five, just 23 runs away from making South Africa bat again. But the home side pressed after the tea break as Maharaj (45-5-137-3) came to the fore.

The spinner had Rizwan driving straight to Bavuma at short extra-cover before having Agha edging to Markram at slip. Amir Jamal (34) reverse-swept Maharaj but straight to Bedingham at short third man.

Rabada ended the innings when he had Hamza caught by Maphaka at backward point.

Rickelton’s masterful 259 in just over 10 hours at the crease was the one highlight of many during South Africa’s five sessions at the crease – an innings that lasted 343 balls and included 29 boundaries and three maximums. Rickelton surpassed his previous First Class best of 202 not out while sharing in a record-breaking stand for the fourth wicket with captain Bavuma (106).

The pair added 235 for the fourth wicket at Newlands, beating the previous best of 197 set by Les Ames and Wally Hammond for England back in 1938-39. This was after the visitors had reduced the home side to 72 for three at lunch on the first day with Markram (17), Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs (0) all back in the pavilion.

“We had our opportunities to seize the crunch moments and we failed to do that. We started off quite late but the response was quite good,” said Masood.

“There is something special within the team. Can’t pinpoint what it is but there is a brotherhood – we back each other and we fight for each other,” added Bavuma.

Rickelton and Bavuma batted for most of the first day before Bavuma ran out of steam, edging spinner Agha (38-4-148-3) through to Rizwan behind the stumps shortly before stumps.

Bedingham (5) did not last long on the second morning before Rickelton was joined at the crease by Kyle Verreynne (100). The pair mounted more hardship on the visiting bowling attack, adding 148 for the sixth wicket.

OVER 600 RUNS

Rickelton’s epic innings finally came to an end when he holed out to Mohammad Abbas at long-on from the bowling of Hamza (30-3-127-2). The departures of Verreynne and Rickelton did not spare Pakistan from the batting onslaught as Jansen (62) and Maharaj (40) made sure that South Africa passed the 600-run mark.

Such was the ferocity of the batting that Jansen needed just 54 balls before being caught in the covers by Babar from the bowling of Hamza while Maharaj faced 35 balls before edging Shahzad (25-4-123-2) through to Rizwan.

“Our first innings with the bat and the ball wasn’t great. When you concede 600 in the first innings you are going to be physically and mentally challenged because you have spent two days out in the field,” Masood acknowledged.

Maphaka’s first foray with the bat in test cricket lasted all of two deliveries before being cleaned up by Abbas (27.3-1-94-3).

The visitors had been asked to follow on after being bundled out for 194 in their first innings with Rabada (15-3-55-3) leading the charge. Maphaka, making his debut, claimed 2-43, with his maiden test wicket being that of Babar Azam who top-scored with 58.

“I think SA bowled well in both innings. Their pace was far higher than ours, even with the old ball, and that is a difference,” said Masood.

Maharaj (8-2-14-2) also picked up two wickets while Jansen (12-4-36-1) and Wiaan Mulder (11-0-44-1) weighing in on the fun.

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.

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