Cape Town: South Africa put up an imposing 477/6 on the scoreboard at the end of the first day of the second Test against Pakistan, thanks to a brilliant double-century by Ryan Rickelton.
Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat first. The hosts lost their first wicket at 61 when opener Aiden Markram was caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off Khurram Shehzad’s delivery after scoring 17.
Trouble followed as Wiaan Mulder (5) and Tristan Stubbs (0) fell in quick succession, leaving South Africa at 70/3. Mulder was caught behind off Mohammad Abbas, while Stubbs edged Agha Salman to Rizwan without opening his account.
From there, South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton turned the game around with a mammoth 235-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Bavuma scored a resilient 106 before being dismissed, while Rickelton remained unbeaten at 233, showcasing a masterclass in batting.
For Pakistan, Agha Salman was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets.
Injury Woes for Pakistan
Pakistan suffered a setback when fielder Saim Ayub injured his ankle near the boundary during the early overs. The severity of his injury required immediate medical attention, and he was taken to the hospital for an X-ray.
Team Changes
Pakistan made one change to their playing XI, bringing in fast bowler Mir Hamza to replace Naseem Shah. The lineup includes captain Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Mughal, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Abbas.
As South Africa builds a commanding position, Pakistan faces a challenging task on Day Two to limit the hosts’ dominance and regain momentum in the match.
