South Africa bowled out Pakistan for 194 in the second Test, enforcing a follow-on with a 421-run lead. Key performances included Babar Azam’s 58 and Ryan Rickelton’s record-setting 259 runs. Pakistan’s struggle continues, especially in light of their batting woes, and they face significant challenges moving forward in the series.
On the third day of the second Test at Newlands, South Africa enforced the follow-on after bowling out Pakistan for 194, establishing a commanding first-innings lead of 421 runs. Pakistan’s batting collapse followed a promising fourth-wicket partnership of 98 runs between Babar Azam, who scored 58, and Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed 46. The partnership was interrupted by debutant Kwena Maphaka, who dismissed Babar just five balls after the morning drinks break when he was caught behind by Kyle Verreynne, glancing the ball down the leg side. Rizwan’s wicket also fell soon after; he charged towards Wiaan Mulder’s delivery, resulting in a wild edge that hit his stumps.
The Pakistani team was further weakened by the absence of their injured opening batsman, Saim Ayub, which exacerbated their struggle against South African bowlers. Earlier, South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton had made a remarkable contribution with a stellar 259 runs, marking the joint seventh-highest score by a South African in Test cricket. His innings, characterized by 29 fours and three sixes off 343 balls, set the stage for South Africa’s dominant position within the match.
South Africa’s success in the first Test at Centurion’s SuperSport Park, where they secured a dramatic two-wicket victory against Pakistan, enabled them to qualify for the World Test Championship final. The preceding match was noted for its T20-like ending, with South Africa’s tailenders achieving success despite experiencing a significant collapse at one stage. Pakistan now faces the challenge of overturning a significant deficit in the ongoing match.
The ongoing Test series between South Africa and Pakistan has seen South Africa demonstrate dominating performances, especially highlighted by their substantial first-innings score of 566. In light of their recent victory that pushed them into the World Test Championship final, South Africa maintains a competitive edge in this series. Pakistan’s struggles are compounded by injuries and lack of consistency in their batting lineup, which are critical issues they need to address moving forward.
In summary, the second Test match highlights Pakistan’s considerable challenges as they were bowled out for 194 and forced to follow-on against South Africa, who currently holds a monumental first-innings lead of 421 runs. The contributions from South African batsmen like Ryan Rickelton and the effective performance of their bowlers underscore South Africa’s dominance in the series. Pakistan’s batting order requires urgent improvements, particularly in the absence of key players like Saim Ayub, if they hope to compete effectively against their opponents.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
