daniel chigunwe
South Africa cruised to a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan late on the fourth day of the second test to seal the two-match series 2-0 at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town yesterday afternoon.
The Proteas had been set a target of 58 which David Bedingham and Aiden Markram knocked off in just 22 minutes and 7.1 overs as Bedingham cracked an unbeaten 44 from only 30 balls with four boundaries and two sixes while Markram ended on 14 not out.
Bedingham opened the batting with Markram, as Ryan Rickelton spent most of the Pakistan innings in the dressing room, and could only bat after two hours or if the Proteas were five wickets down.
Pakistan had eked out a lead of 57 after being bowled out for 478 midway through the final session on day four. The Proteas toiled for 122.1 overs, finally removing the last available Pakistan batsman, Mir Hamza, for 16. Saim Ayub was unable to bat in both innings due to his ankle fracture on day one.
It was a valiant effort from the visiting side, facing a first innings deficit of 421 after being dismantled for 194 in their first innings and being asked to follow on. Captain Shan Masood (145) and Babar Azam (81) had provided the perfect platform for the fightback with a record-breaking opening stand of 205, beating the previous best of 137 set by Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat back in 2002-03.
Babar gave his wicket away shortly before the close on day three, driving at a wide delivery from Marco Jansen (24-0-101-2) only to be caught by Bedingham in the gully region as Pakistan ended the third day on 213 for one.
Pakistan lost two wickets on the fourth morning, with Jansen having nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad (18) caught at backward point by Keshav Maharaj. Kagiso Rabada (25.1-2-115-3) then castled Kamran Ghulam after a defiant 28 as Pakistan went to lunch on 312 for three, still 109 in arrears.
The middle session was again a balanced affair as Masood, who spent 371 minutes at the crease, facing 251 deliveries and striking 17 boundaries, kept the Proteas attack at bay. However, Rabada struck with the new ball, having Saud Shakeel edging to Markram at first slip for 23. Then came the moment of the innings when Kwena Maphaka (13-0-47-1) trapped the Pakistan captain in front, only to be turned down by the umpire. South Africa reviewed successfully and Masood had to walk — although unimpressed with the Hawk Eye imaging.
SOUTH AFRICA BAT AGAIN
Mohammed Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) carried Pakistan to tea with the total on 398 for five, just 23 runs away from making South Africa bat again. But the home side pressed after the tea break as Maharaj (45-5-137-3) came to the fore. — SuperSport.
