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On Monday, January 6, South Africa defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets before the close of play on day four in the second Test at the Newlands in Cape Town, to clinch the two-match series 2-0. Aiden Markram and makeshift opener David Bedingham, who took injured double centurion Ryan Rickelton’s spot, chased down a paltry target of 58 runs set by Pakistan after asking them to follow-on with a first innings lead of 421 runs at their disposal.
At the start of day four, Pakistan were 213/1 in 49 overs with their captain Shan Masood at the crease after going past the hundred alongside night watchman Khurram Shahzad, who had arrived at the crease at the fall of Babar Azam’s wicket for 81. In the first session, Pakistan lost a couple of wickets of Khurram Shahzad and Kamran Ghulam, but still, they looked well on course to force South Africa to bat again in the Test in their second innings.
Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne, and Shan Masood scored hundreds in Cape Town Test
The second new ball helped South Africa to take two crucial wickets of Saud Shakeel (23 off 51) and Shan Masood (145 off 251) after the latter was trapped in front of the stumps by Kwena Maphaka on his Test debut. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha shared an 88-run stand for the sixth wicket, going past their 40s before their untimely dismissals when Pakistan were interested in setting a competitive target for South Africa.
With Saim Ayub not available to bat due to an ankle fracture, Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 478 runs in their second innings after Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj took three wickets each. The target of 58 runs was a walk in the park for South Africa as David Bedingham scored unbeaten 44 runs in just 30 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Aiden Markram got 14 not out in 13 with one four to his name.
The next Test assignment after seven successive Test wins for South Africa in Test cricket will be the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, scheduled to happen in June at Lord’s in London.
