Pakistan are looking for positive results after South Africa completed the test series examination | Cricket news
South Africa recorded a 10-wicket victory in the second Test to win the cricket series 2-0 despite a late fightback by Pakistan in Cape Town.
South Africa wrapped up a 2-0 cricket victory over Pakistan after they sealed a 10-wicket victory in the second game in Cape Town despite a second-innings fightback from the tourists.
Forced to chase 421 runs behind in the first innings, Pakistan struggled with 478 total out. But South Africa, who qualified for the World Test Cup finals last week, easily smashed the target of 58 on Monday night.
David Bedingham hit 44 not out from 30 balls as South Africa sealed victory in just 7.1 overs on the fourth day of the match.
Bedingham opened in place of Ryan Rickelton, who suffered a hamstring strain on the field after scoring 259 in South Africa’s first innings of 615.
Captain Shan Masood led Pakistan’s defence, scoring 145 runs.
After the result, Masood said he believed better days were ahead for Pakistan as they had held their own for a long time in challenging conditions.
“There were a lot of good things [in the series]Masood said. “Knowing that we did really well [in Pretoria] but he did not close it. We didn’t start well with the ball and bat there either.
“In the beginning we allowed too many runs and then we gave up with the bat [in their first innings] on a very nice surface. But then fighting back, we got the highest score against South Africa in Test cricket. Individually, people stepped up.”
Masood fell to the second new ball, trapped leg before the wicket of 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka.
His dismissal came three balls after Kagiso Rabada had Saud Shakeel caught at second slip for 23, ending the fourth wicket of 51 runs.
Pakistan, short after Saim Ayub broke his ankle while fielding on the first morning, were still 92 runs behind after the double strike.
Ali Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) put on 88 for the sixth wicket and Aamer Jamal hit a quickfire 34 before the innings ended.
South Africa’s bowlers received virtually no help from a quiet pitch.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was expected to be a major factor in the toss on day four, produced minimal spin and bowled 45 overs to take three for 137.
Masood will rue the fact that his side allowed South Africa to score a mammoth 615 in their first innings, which meant the tourists were always chasing the game.
Not that this is anything new, Pakistan have played well in patches recently, but they are also under pressure. Masood hopes they can be more consistent in their upcoming two-Test home series against the West Indies starting on January 17.
“We have to learn how to win in key moments,” Masood said. “We came back well against England [to win the series 2-1 in October]. With our backs against the wall, we did well.
“But we have to learn how to strike first. We’ve got a lot of young cricketers to learn and luckily we’re going straight into the second series with the West Indies.”
Meanwhile, South Africa will go into the final of the Test Championship against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in June on the back of seven straight wins – the second most successful run in their history.
