South Africa took the lead when Ryan Rickleton scored a joint-seventh highest Test score of 259 against Pakistan at Newlands.
His innings took South Africa to 566 for seven at tea on the second day of the second Test. Rickelton hit 29 fours and three sixes during his 343-ball stay, dominating the contest.
Due to Tony De Zorzi’s injury, Rickelton was promoted as opener and formed a key partnership with Temba Bavaoma and Kyle Vereen, scoring 235 runs with Bavuma (106 runs) and 148 runs with Vereen (100 runs). couples
Rickelton was eventually dismissed after attempting a tired sweep to Mir Hamza, caught by Mohammad Abbas.
Marco Johnson remained unbeaten on 57 runs off 48 balls, while Keshav Maharaj remained at the crease on two runs.
On 176 in the morning, Rickelton returned to the field confidently, facing Pakistan’s second new ball.
He got off to a cautious start after the first few balls but Vereen went on his way to score his fourth century in Test cricket off 144 balls.
Spinner Salman Agha hit five sixes before Aamir Jamal took 3-129 and was caught on the boundary.
David Bedingham became Abbas’s fifth victim in the innings, getting out for five runs.
Pakistan opener Saeem Ayub broke his ankle on the first day and will be out of action for six weeks.
Due to Ayub’s injury, Pakistan will bat with only nine wickets per innings.
South Africa have already secured a place in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s in June.
After narrowly winning the opening Test in Pretoria, they are now targeting a 2-0 series win. This performance gave South Africa the upper hand over the struggling tourists.
