tags: Pakistan tour of South Africa, 2024-25,
South Africa v Pakistan, 2nd Test in Cape Town, 3-7. January 2025,
South Africa,
Pakistan
Published: January 6, 2025
Table of results
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South Africa tightened their grip on the Test match, claiming two crucial wickets before tea on the fourth day, but Pakistan’s lower-order struggle kept the visitors in the hunt. A lively 69-run partnership between Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan brought Pakistan within 16 runs of avoiding an innings defeat, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
Masood’s marathon ended in controversy
Shan Masood’s valiant knock, which lasted 368 minutes, ended in controversial fashion. Kwena Maphaka, South Africa’s most outstanding bowler, took a low shot that hit Masood’s forehand. Umpire Nitin Menon initially judged it to have missed the stumps, but a successful South African review showed it was on target. Masood’s frustration was palpable as he protested the decision, a rare sight in a normally calm batting line-up.
Masood’s dismissal marked the culmination excellent sessions after lunch for South Africa. Kagiso Rabada, who was coming in from the other end, took Saud Shakeel, who hit it sharply at slip. Shakeel’s departure left Pakistan reeling, but Agha and Rizwan steadied the ship.
Agha and Rizwan lead the resistance
Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan batted with determination, blunted the South African attack and reduced the deficit. Their partnership is built on patience, rotating the strike and punishing the rare loose delivery. Agha made particular use of Wiaan Mulder’s wayward line, hitting two boundaries in quick succession to inject momentum into Pakistan’s innings.
With the ball losing its luster and the pitch offering inconsistent bounce, the South African bowlers struggled. Keshav Maharaj, who bowled almost non-stop during the morning session, continued to pose a threat with his variations in flight and pace, although the wickets mostly fell to the pacers.
Morning session: South Africa make early progress
The morning began with Marco Jansen dismissing nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad, who at that point cut a rising delivery to Maharaj. Kagiso Rabada then produced a moment of brilliance to clear Kamran Ghulam, bowling a ball that bit back sharply and uprooted the middle stumps.
Rabada’s wicket marked his 50th Test scalp at Newlands, a milestone he celebrated with a victory roar. Despite his success, the South African quick had a mixed morning, conceding runs through indiscipline, including four no-balls.
Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel resisted alongside Masood, but his stay was marred by near misses. Maphaka beat him with a beauty that hit the pads, although South Africa opted against the review. Hawk-Eye later indicated that the delivery would have hit the stumps, a missed opportunity that did not prove too costly as Shakeel fell soon after lunch.
South Africa under control, but work remains
As the game approaches its final stages, South Africa have the upper hand, but they cannot afford to be complacent. With Rizwan and Agha showing resilience and Pakistan’s tail capable of surprises, the visitors are far from capitulating.
The Proteas will look to finish the innings quickly after tea and avoid a tricky chase on a draining pitch. For Pakistan, survival remains the primary objective as they struggle to get South Africa to strike again.
Test cricket drama is alive and well and all eyes will be on Newlands as the action continues.
