18-year-old South African cricketer Kwena Maphaka is living his dream in the ongoing second test against the Pakistan national cricket team. The final match of the two-match series between the teams is played at Newlands in Cape Town.
Kwena Maphaka, who is making his debut for the South African national cricket team, is bowling extremely well in the ongoing match. The young pacer bowled some hard lines and lengths and troubled the batsmen of the Pakistan National Cricket Team with his bowling in the match.
Kwena Maphaka bowled consistently at 140 km/h in the second Test against Pakistan
Maphaka, given the way he bowled, it could be said that it was only a matter of time before he got his first Test wicket. The young fast bowler could not have wished for a better start to his career after he removed Pakistan national cricket team mainstay Babar Azam to claim his first wicket in the format.
Maphaka, who bowled consistently at 140km/h, bowled a length ball that slanted off the outside leg stump that also stayed a little low. Babar Azam looked to catch a glimpse but only managed to cut it behind. The Verreynne keeper got down low to devour it to give the youngster his first wicket.
Although, it wasn’t a goal ball, Kwena Maphaka was irritated to pieces as he celebrated with a beaming smile on his face. Almost all the players of the South African national cricket team applauded him, and the audience applauded him for taking the wicket.
Watch: Kwena Maphaka removes Babar Azam to take his first Test wicket
Here is the video:
It is encouraging to see 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka get his first Test wicket on debut. His first Test scalp was the dangerous Pakistani batsman Babar Azam. pic.twitter.com/kAwpIl6e1k
— Ratombo 🇿🇦 (@stoneman_o) January 5, 2025
With the wicket of Babar Azam, Kwena Maphaka became the youngest South African national cricket team player ever to take a Test wicket. The young pacer has now also removed a Pakistan National Cricket Team batsman in all three formats of the game in his young career.
T20I ✅
GO ✅
TEST it ✅18-year-old Kwena Maphaka has now dismissed Babar Azam in all formats#SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/s5CkE8rDRh
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 5, 2025
Babar Azam is back in the hut after playing an innings of 58 runs off 127 balls
Babar Azam looked decent with the bat in the ongoing Test. The right-hander was ready for a big ton, but got an unfortunate dismissal. The former Pakistan national cricket team captain slammed his second half-century of the series and announced his arrival in the formation in style.
Babar Azam returned to the hut after playing an innings of 58 runs off 127 balls with the help of 7 boundaries. With Saim Ayub ruled out, the batsman was asked to open the innings for the team, and he did a great job for his side, but the right-hander hardly got any support from the other end.
Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan looked like the only established batsman apart from Babar Azam. He caught 46 runs but could not continue. Pakistan’s national cricket team remained at 155/6 and with the way they are batting, chances are high that they could get a follow-on.
Read also: “Would I give it another chance…”: Sunil Gavaskar questions Rohit Sharma’s Test future in brutal attack
