South Africa sealed a 10-wicket win in the second Test to win the cricket series 2-0 despite Pakistan’s late fightback in Cape Town. South Africa has completed a 2-0 cricket series victory over Pakistan after cruising to a 10-wicket win in the second match in Cape Town despite the tourists’ resistance in the second innings.
On 421 runs behind in the first innings, Pakistan fought to 478. But South Africa, who qualified for the World Test Championship final last week, knocked off a target of 58 easily late on Monday. David Bedingham hit 44, not out of 30 balls, as South Africa sealed victory with just 7.1 overs on the fourth day of the match.
Bedingham replaced Ryan Rickelton, who strained his hamstring in the field after scoring 259 in South Africa’s first innings of 615. Captain Shan Masood led Pakistan’s fightback, scoring 145.After the result, Masood said he believes Pakistan has better days ahead as it held its own for long periods in challenging conditions.
There were lots of good things [in the series],” Masood said. “Knowing we did really well [in Pretoria] but didn’t close it out. Even here, we didn’t start well with ball and bat.”.
We conceded too many runs early, then folded with the bat on a nice surface in their first innings. Then, in the fightback, we scored the highest against South Africa in Test cricket. Individually, people stepped up.” Masood fell to the second new ball, trapped leg before wicket by 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka.
His dismissal came three balls after Kagiso Rabada had Saud Shakeel caught at second slip for 23, ending a 51-run fourth-wicket stand. Pakistan, a batter short after Saim Ayub suffered a broken ankle while fielding on the first morning, were still 92 runs in arrears after the double blow.
But Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) added 88 for the sixth wicket, and Aamer Jamal struck a brisk 34 before the innings wrapped up. South Africa’s bowlers got hardly any help from a flat deck. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was meant to be a major factor on a fourth-day pitch, obtained little turn and went for 45 overs to return three for 137.
