Second Check: Pakistan look to stabilise after shedding early wickets to South Africa

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (proper) watches the ball after taking part in a shot as South Africa´s wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (left) reacts in the course of the second day of the second Check on the Newlands stadium in Cape City on January 4, 2025. — AFP

Pakistan want to dig in and stabilise their first innings after shedding early wickets within the second Check to South Africa being performed on the Newlands Cricket Floor in Cape City on Sunday.

Resuming their innings on the third day from 64-3 with Babar Azam (31*) and Mohammad Rizwan (9*) on the crease, the nationwide aspect are trailing by 551 runs owing to the hosts’ mammoth 615-run complete within the first innings.

A day earlier, the guests confronted a dismal begin to their first innings as they misplaced back-to-back three wickets together with the wicket of captain Shan Masood. 

Masood fell to Rabada within the first over of the innings. Kamran Ghulam adopted him within the sixth over placing Inexperienced Shirts in peril with a rating of 18-2.

Rabada struck once more on the fourth ball of the ninth over and dismissed Saud Shakeel on a duck. 

The Inexperienced Shirts, are already down 1-0 towards the Proteas and would wish to win the second Check if they’re to degree the two-match sequence.

Earlier within the match, the house aspect’s makeshift opener Ryan Rickelton helped his group attain a powerful 615 runs within the first innings through his 259-run knock.

Pakistan’s bowling assault was left bamboozled from the onslaught of the South African batters with Kyle Verreynne additionally scoring a ton from simply 147 balls. 

Mohammad Abbas and Salman Ali Agha managed to bag three wickets every, whereas Mir Hamza and Khuram Shahzad dismissed two batters every.

Taking part in XI

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka