Rickelton, Bavuma score centuries as South Africa dominate v Pakistan

CAPE TOWN (Reuters): Ryan Rickelton struck a career-best unbeaten 176 and his captain Temba Bavuma scored 106 as South Africa pummelled Pakistan’s seamers at Newlands to finish the first day of the second and final test on 316 for four on Friday.

The pair put on 235 in 53.5 overs for the fourth wicket after Pakistan had picked up three scalps late in the first session, but then toiled after lunch under the baking hot sun in Cape Town.

Rickelton will resume on the second morning with David Bedingham, who is unbeaten on four.

The left-handed opener was elevated from the number three position due to an injury to Tony de Zorzi, and took his chance to score a second test century after his first against Sri Lanka last month.

His marathon effort has lasted 232 balls with 21 fours and a six after South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat.

"I'm stoked, to get 170-odd is special for me," Rickelton said. "My plan was to just keep it simple, stand still and play straight.

"It's been a good day for us, Temba was superb. With how brittle the surface (of the wicket) is underneath, we need to get as many runs as we can in this first innings."

Rickelton and Aiden Markram put on 61 for the first wicket before the latter was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off the bowling of Khurram Shahzad for 17.

Wiaan Mulder made five before he gave a simple chance to Rizwan off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas, and the keeper claimed his third victim the ball before lunch as Tristan Stubbs edged spinner Salman Agha having failed to score.

Bavuma scored his fourth test century to continue his excellent form that has seen him score two centuries and three fifties in his last seven innings.

He was out 15 minutes before the close when he edged Salman (2-55) to Rizwan. Pakistan's day was made worse when in-form opening batter Saim Ayub had to be carried off the field on a stretcher after he sustained an ankle injury, leaving his further participation in the match in doubt.

The pitch is the same strip on which India beat South Africa by seven wickets after only 107 overs of the last five-day match played in Cape Town 12 months ago, the shortest test to have a winner in history.

South Africa have already claimed their place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against as yet unconfirmed opponents, but are looking to win this series 2-0 after claiming a tense first test by two wickets in Pretoria.

In the second Test match, South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan.

A change has been made in the Pakistan team for the Cape Town Test, with fast bowler Naseem Shah replaced by Mir Hamza in the playing XI.

Pakistan team

The national team includes Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Amir Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Muhammad Abbas.

It is pertinent to note that South Africa won the first match of the two-match Test series. Before the series, South Africa had won the three-match T20 series 2-0.

One match could not be played due to rain, after that Pakistan won the three-match ODI series by a clean sweep.