CAPE TOWN: South African left-handed opener Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 176-run knock, along with skipper Temba Bavuma’s century powered his team to 316/4 on the opening day of the final test against Pakistan at the Newlands on Friday.
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. The 235-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rickelton and Bavuma has put the hosts in a strong position.
The marathon stand finally came to an end in the 77th when Salman Ali Agha got Bavuma caught behind. The right-handed batter scored 106 off 179 deliveries with the help of nine fours and two sixes.
After his dismissal, Rickelton was joined by David Bedingham and together they just accumulated nine runs to South Africa’s total before stumps were drawn.
At the closure of the first day, Rickelton was unbeaten on 176 off 232 deliveries, with 21 fours and a six, while Bedingham had made four not out.
For Pakistan, Agha bagged two wickets, while Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas, got one each.
Pakistan made just one change for the crucial second Test as Mir Hamza replaced Naseem Shah in the Playing XI.
It is pertinent to mention that South Africa leads the two-match series 1-0, courtesy of their hard-fought two-wicket victory in the series opener in Centurion.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.
