Pakistan Struggles as South Africa Dominates in 2nd Test
On day three of the second test, Pakistan struggled at 155-6, trailing South Africa by 460 runs, as Kwena Maphaka took the critical wicket of Babar Azam in his debut. Despite a resilient partnership, Pakistan’s batting faltered, leaving them in a precarious position to avoid the follow-on against a dominant South African side that scored 615 in their first innings.
On the third day of the second test match in Cape Town, South Africa’s Kwena Maphaka achieved a significant milestone by claiming the pivotal wicket of Babar Azam. This achievement contributed to Pakistan’s precarious position as they found themselves at 155-6, trailing South Africa by 460 runs. Maphaka’s debut test wicket came when he successfully caught Azam down the leg side, marking a noteworthy moment in his early career. Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled, especially after the injury sidelined Saim Ayub for at least six weeks, effectively leaving them with just five fit batsmen.
Despite a promising fourth-wicket partnership of 98 runs between Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed 46 runs, the team could not maintain their momentum after Azam’s dismissal. Maphaka’s breakthrough led to rapid dismissals, with Rizwan and Salman Agha following suit, leaving the visitors in dire straits as they aimed to avoid the follow-on. South Africa had already established a commanding first-innings total of 615, with exceptional contributions from Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, and Kyle Verreynne. Consequently, South Africa is well positioned to secure victory in this test and advance to the World Test Championship final.
The match took place during a two-test series between South Africa and Pakistan, with South Africa having already secured a win in the first test at Centurion. This second test saw South Africa dominate, posting an impressive score in the first innings. The pivotal focus of this match was on the performance of young cricketer Kwena Maphaka and the continuing struggles of the Pakistani batting lineup, compounded by injury issues, which significantly impacted their performance. This test match is crucial not only for the series but also in determining positions for the World Test Championship final.
In summary, Pakistan is in a challenging position at 155-6, trailing by 460 runs against South Africa, largely due to the outstanding debut performance from Kwena Maphaka. As South Africa’s bowlers continue to apply pressure, Pakistan’s hopes of a turnaround hinge on the remaining batsmen’s ability to withstand the relentless attack and avoid the follow-on. With South Africa’s substantial first-innings lead, the outcome of the match looks increasingly favorable for the hosts, who are on the verge of securing a series victory and a place in the World Test Championship final.
Original Source: apnews.com
