On Day 3 of the second Test, Pakistan struggled at 155-6, trailing South Africa by 460 runs. Teenage bowler Kwena Maphaka took his debut wicket by dismissing Babar Azam, complicating Pakistan’s efforts to avoid follow-on. With a significant first innings lead, South Africa is well positioned for victory.
On the third day of the second Test match in Cape Town, South Africa’s 18-year-old cricketer Kwena Maphaka made headlines by taking his debut wicket, dismissing Pakistan captain Babar Azam. This dismissal contributed to Pakistan’s dwindling score of 155 for six, leaving them trailing South Africa by 460 runs at lunchtime. Pakistan’s hopes of avoiding a follow-on were further complicated by the injury of opener Saim Ayub, ruling him out for several weeks with a fractured right ankle, effectively reducing the team to seven fit players.
In a promising fourth-wicket partnership, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan managed to stabilize the innings after resuming at 64 for three. Their collaboration yielded 98 runs, with Babar achieving his half-century before falling for a total of 58. However, the departure of Babar marked the turning point of the innings, as Pakistan lost two quick wickets, with Rizwan bowled out shortly thereafter for 46. With the team needing another 261 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad remained at the crease and faced a tough battle.
South Africa’s first innings total had soared to an impressive 615 runs, anchored by the remarkable performances of Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, and Kyle Verreynne, all scoring centuries. Following a narrow victory over Pakistan in the first Test, South Africa solidified their spot in June’s World Test Championship final against Australia, who also secured their position with a win against India in the final Test of their series.
The match in Cape Town is significant not only for the performance of individual players but also in the context of the World Test Championship. South Africa’s overwhelming first-innings score highlights the team’s batting strength following past successes, while Pakistan’s struggles exemplify their ongoing challenges. The injury to Saim Ayub adds further pressure on a team already in a precarious position, illustrating the impact of player fitness on overall team performance in critical matches.
In summary, South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka has made a noteworthy debut by claiming the wicket of Babar Azam, contributing to Pakistan’s decline to 155 for six. With significant runs needed to avoid a follow-on after their first innings, Pakistan faces an uphill battle. As South Africa continues to demonstrate their prowess ahead of the World Test Championship final, the match reflects critical developments in both team performances and player milestones.
Original Source: apnews.com
