DAY 1: Rickelton, Bavuma dominate Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton (106 not out) and Temba Bavuma (51 not out) produced an unbroken stand worth 112 for the fourth wicket as South Africa went to tea on 184 for three against Pakistan in the second test at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Friday afternoon.

Rickelton started the post-lunch session on 50 but navigated his way to an unbeaten 106 – his second test ton and his highest score – while Bavuma provided the perfect balance, ending the session on unbeaten on 51, his 25th test half-century.

The Proteas, having won the toss and electing to bat first, lost their way just before the lunch break after a decent opening stand of 61 between Rickelton and Aiden Markram (17). However, Khurram Shahzad (10-2-46-1), who had Markram and Rickelton dropped in the covers by Abdullah Shafique, finally found success in having Markram edging behind off an inside edge to Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps.

Then, shortly before the break, Pakistan claimed an early advantage when Mohammad Abbas (14-0-46-1) had Wiaan Mulder edging to Rizwan for just five before Salman Agha (8-0-15-1) closed out the morning session, having Tristan Stubbs edging to Rizwan for a duck to leave the Proteas on 72 for three.

But the afternoon session belonged to Rickelton and Bavuma as the pair raised the fifty-run stand in just 51 minutes. The Lion’s pair had added 69 runs with South Africa on 141 for three midway through the session.

The Pakistan bowlers toiled under the warm Cape sun but rarely troubled the South African duo. Rickelton brought up his second ton, flicking Agha down the leg-side for four runs, in 220 minutes and 135 balls. His innings included 14 boundaries.

Bavuma constructed his innings in the calmest of manners, raising his bat to the applauding crowd in just 82 balls with six fours to his name. South Africa’s captain has been in such a rich vein of form of late, scoring four fifties and a century in his last five test innings.

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.