A two-match test between SA and PAK is underway series between South Africa and Pakistan will finish with the second test, which should start this week. The second Test between South Africa and Pakistan will be played in Cape Town from Friday (January 3).
The result of the SA vs PAK series is currently 1-0 in favor of South Africa. South Africa took an elusive lead in the series after beating Pakistan by 2 wickets in a thrilling match in Centurion last month.
SA’s first match against PAK was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride and in the end, South Africa managed to hold their nerve and cross the finish line. Set a target of 148 runs, South Africa recovered from 99/8 to chase down the total. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada shared an unbeaten 51-run stand for the ninth wicket to take their team home.
Earlier in the game, Pakistan scored 211 and 237 runs in the first and second innings respectively. On the other hand, South Africa scored 301 runs in their first innings. Here is a preview of the second SA vs PAK test.
Preview of SA vs PAK – 2nd Test, Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2024-25:
SA vs PAK Date and place:
The upcoming second Test between South Africa and Pakistan will begin on Friday (January 3). The match will be played at Newlands, Cape Town.
Determine:
South Africa:
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden MarkramWiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Pakistan:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar AzamHaseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Key battles of SA against PAK
Saim Ayub vs Kagiso Rabada:
Saim Ayub was in brilliant form in the limited overs series against South Africa. The young opener was one of the best batsmen during the white ball series. He played a brilliant knock of 98 runs in the second T20I of the three-match series.
He followed that up by scoring two centuries in the ODI series. Expectations from Ayub in the first Test were high, but he could not live up to them. He got starts in both innings but failed to convert them into big scores. Ayub scored 14 runs in the first innings before scoring 27 in the second.
The southpaw will try to bounce back in the second Test. South Africa will rely on Kagiso Rabada to get rid of Ayub early. Rabada replaced Ayub in the second innings of the first Test and will be looking at more success against him.
Babar Azam vs Marc Jansen:
Marco Jansen will once again try to win his fight against Babar Azam. The lanky pacer can trouble any batsman in the world, especially in home conditions as he blew Pakistan away in the second innings.
After taking 1 wicket in the first innings, Jansen took 6 wickets in the second innings. One of those gates was Babar Azama. The former Pakistan captain was in good form and was on 50 when he was dismissed by Jansen.
Aiden Markram vs Mohammad Abbas:
Aiden Markram and Mohammad Abbas were the two best players in the first Test and the battle between them could decide the fate of the upcoming match. Markram was named man of the match as he scored 89 and 37 in the match.
On the other hand, Abbas almost won the man of the match award after taking 6 wickets in the second innings which put Pakistan on the brink of a famous victory. Abbas also dismissed Markram in the second innings and will look to send him back once more.
SA vs PAK Key players
SA – Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will be some of South Africa’s key players.
PAK – Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas will be the key players for Pakistan.
Conclusion:
A lot is still at stake in the upcoming game even though South Africa have taken an unassailable lead in the series and have already booked their place in the WTC final. Pakistan can create history by winning the upcoming Test.
They lost all 4 Tests they played in Cape Town and will be looking to improve their record. On the other hand, South Africa will be desperate to win the upcoming match to maintain their 100 percent performance against the Proteas.
