South Africa Defeats Pakistan by 10 Wickets in Cape Town Test
Shan Masood's 145 and Saud Shakil's 28 Lead Pakistan's Fightback Against South Africa
Cape Town: South Africa triumphed over Pakistan by 10 wickets in the Cape Town Test, completing a clean sweep in the two-match series. The hosts easily chased down a target of 58 runs without losing any wickets, securing the win in just the eighth over.
On the fourth day of the match, Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood and night-watchman Khurram Shehzad came out to bat. Pakistan’s score stood at 235 runs when Shehzad was dismissed for 18.
Kamran Ghulam was the next to depart, scoring 28 runs, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position. Shan Masood continued to anchor the innings, with Saud Shakeel providing vital support. The pair managed a partnership of 51 runs before Shakeel was dismissed for 28 runs at a total score of 329. Shortly after, Masood was out for a well-played 145 runs.
Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha formed a crucial 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket, helping Pakistan inch closer to safety. However, Rizwan was dismissed for 41 runs at a total of 417. Agha followed suit, scoring 48 runs before departing at 441.
The tail-enders, Amir Jamal and Mir Hamza, added 37 runs for the eighth wicket, pushing Pakistan’s total to 478 before both were dismissed. With Pakistan’s total at 478, they were all out, giving South Africa a target of 58 runs.
South Africa achieved this target effortlessly in just 8 overs, with no wickets lost, to seal the series 2-0. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj were the standout bowlers for South Africa, each taking three wickets. Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj also contributed, taking two and one wickets respectively.
In the first innings, South Africa had set a daunting total of 615, with Ryan Rickelton’s double century, along with centuries from Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne. Pakistan’s bowlers, Mohammad Abbas and Salman Ali Agha, both took three wickets, while Mir Hamza and Khurram Shehzad claimed two each.
The series defeat marks a tough challenge for Pakistan as they look ahead to their future fixtures.
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