Rickleton’s double Hundred piles pressure on Pakistan in second Test
The visitors struggled at 64-3 by the close of play, still trailing by a daunting 551 runs, after Ryan Rickelton’s sublime double century powered South Africa to an imposing first innings total of 615.
Pakistan were in deep trouble following a dominant South African batting display on the second day of the second Test at Newlands on Saturday.
The visitors struggled at 64-3 by the close of play, still trailing by a daunting 551 runs, after Ryan Rickelton's sublime double century powered South Africa to an imposing first innings total of 615.
Rickelton, the left-handed opener, delivered a masterclass in batting, compiling a chanceless 259, South Africa's joint seventh-highest Test score.
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His innings, which spanned 607 minutes and 343 balls, included 29 fours and three sixes. The 27-year-old was the seventh wicket to fall, caught at mid-on while attempting a big hit with the score on 557.
The South African onslaught began with Rickelton anchoring the innings and Kyle Verreynne smashing 100 off 147 balls in a sixth-wicket partnership worth 148. Verreynne's innings featured nine fours and five sixes before he was caught at deep midwicket.
Marco Jansen followed with a rapid 42-ball half-century, contributing to an 86-run seventh-wicket stand with Rickelton. Jansen fell for 62 off 54 deliveries, while Keshav Maharaj added a brisk 40 from 35 balls before the innings ended with debutant Kwena Maphaka being bowled for a duck.
Mohammad Abbas claimed three wickets for 94 runs, reaching his 100th Test dismissal by removing Maphaka, who, at 18 years and 270 days, is South Africa's youngest-ever Test player.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan also distinguished himself with six catches during South Africa's innings.
Pakistan's reply got off to a disastrous start, with Shan Masood caught at first slip off Kagiso Rabada for two in the first over.
Kamran Ghulam was bowled by Jansen for 12, and Saud Shakeel fell without scoring, providing David Bedingham with his second catch off Rabada.
Reduced to 20-3, Pakistan found some stability through captain Babar Azam and Rizwan, who added an unbroken 44-run partnership. Babar, forced to open the batting due to Saim Ayub's absence after the opener suffered a fractured ankle, remained unbeaten on 31 at stumps.
