South Africa vs Pakistan Match Preview, 2nd Test

South Africa and Pakistan lock horns in the second and final Test match at Newlands, Cape Town, starting on Friday, January 3. The Proteas are leading the series 1-0.

Temba Bavuma and Co. created history after their two-wicket win in the first Test as they became the first South African side to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They will want to continue their winning momentum in Cape Town. Meanwhile, Pakistan will take a lot of heart from the fight they showed in Centurion. They took South Africa to the limit and almost pulled off one of their finest overseas wins of all time.

In the first Test, Pakistan were bowled out for 211 in the first innings as Dane Paterson bagged a five-for while debutant Corbin Bosch supported him commendably with a four-wicket haul. Kamran Ghulam scored a half-century for the tourists. However, South Africa took a 90-run lead in the first innings on the back of Aiden Markam's magnificent 89 off 144 balls. Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah picked up three wickets apiece for the visitors.

In their second innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 237 after Saud Shakeel (84) and Babar Azam (50) scored gritty half-centuries. Marco Jansen was the wrecker-in-chief for the Proteas as he finished with remarkable figures of 6/52 in 14 overs. Chasing 148 in the fourth innings, South Africa lost three wickets upfront before Markram and Bavuma steadied the ship. The former departed after scoring a 63-ball 37.

Pakistan fought back strongly towards the backend as the home side slumped from 96/4 to 99/8. However, Kagiso Rabada (31*) and Jansen (16*) took the African nation home with an unbeaten 51-run partnership off 50 balls. Mohammad Abbas bowled brilliantly for Pakistan and finished with figures of 6/54 in 19.3 overs.

Match Details