Pakistan faltered in their second Test against South Africa, bowled out for 194 and forced to follow on after South Africa established a 421-run lead. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan showed some resistance with a 98-run partnership, but the rest of the batting order crumbled. South Africa, led by an exceptional 259 from Ryan Rickelton, controlled the match effectively.
On the third day of the second Test at Newlands, Pakistan was bowled out for 194, leading South Africa to enforce the follow-on with a commanding first-innings lead of 421 runs. A promising fourth-wicket partnership of 98 runs between Babar Azam, who scored 58, and Mohammad Rizwan, who added 46, was pivotal for Pakistan. However, this partnership came to an end shortly after the morning drinks break when debutant Kwena Maphaka took the crucial wicket of Babar, caught behind by Kyle Verreynne. Shortly thereafter, Rizwan was dismissed in a bizarre manner, attempting a charge against Wiaan Mulder and inadvertently striking the ball into his own stumps. Lacking the services of injured opener Saim Ayub, the remaining batsmen provided scant resistance against a dominant South African attack. In stark contrast, South African opener Ryan Rickelton had an outstanding performance, scoring 259, marking one of the highest individual scores in South African Test history and setting his team up solidly with an overall score of 566 for seven at tea on the second day. South Africa had previously secured their place in the World Test Championship finals following a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion’s SuperSport Park.
The context of this match is rooted in the ongoing series between Pakistan and South Africa, with both teams vying for dominance in Test cricket. South Africa had just qualified for the World Test Championship finals following a dramatic win over Pakistan in their previous encounter. Pakistan, needing to perform well to offset their previous loss, entered the second Test aiming to break a long-standing streak of struggles in South Africa, where they have not won a Test match in 18 years. The combination of a lack of form and injuries has been detrimental to Pakistan’s efforts.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s early capitulation in the second Test, bowled out for 194 and forced to follow on, highlights significant challenges in their batting lineup, particularly with key players sidelined by injury. South Africa capitalized on these weaknesses with a strong performance, particularly from Ryan Rickelton, to build a formidable first-innings lead. As the match progresses, the balance of power appears firmly in favor of South Africa, underlined by their recent form and an impressive batting display.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
