South Africa 566 for 7 (Rickelton 259, Verreynne 100, Jansen 57*, Salman 3-129) vs Pakistan
A complete of 137 runs had been added within the session, with South Africa having surged to 566 for 7, their highest rating at residence in 4 years. Pakistan gamely battled on, however their efforts by no means regarded like bearing fruit on a wicket that had lengthy since flattened, and batters that had lengthy since settled. A lot of the session turned a milestone-marking train.
Verreynne continued with the belligerence that lit up the primary session, a boundary off Abbas and a single off the following ball mentioning three figures. It introduced Newlands to its toes as soon as extra; they could have sore legs from the frequency with which they’d to do this.
Salman Ali Agha struck subsequent over to prise him out as Verreynne went for a slog sweep, but it surely did little to stymie South Africa’s momentum. With no scoreboard strain, Jansen let his pure expertise converse for itself, swinging freely and timing it fantastically. He took 11 balls to get off the mark, however as soon as he did, there was no stopping him. Two fours and a six off Khurram Shahzad in two successive overs helped carry up the 50 partnership with Rickelton in 46 balls, whilst each Rickelton and Jansen helped themselves to sixes off Agha.
Pakistan lastly noticed the again of Rickelton earlier than tea was known as. Having slapped Mir Hamza over his head for 4, he top-edged the following ball to Abbas at long-on, who held on to ship him on his method, however not earlier than he had practically doubled his Check tally in a single innings.
Within the morning, Rickelton had grow to be the primary South African in eight years to attain a Check double hundred as South Africa tightened their grip on the second Check in Cape City. Pakistan started the session with some promise, taking the brand new ball instantly and hanging inside 4 overs, when Mohammad Abbas tempted David Bedingham right into a push exterior off stump and induced an outdoor edge.
It gave Pakistan a carry, however Rickelton merely carried on with the self-discipline that noticed him go in in a single day unbeaten on 176, cautious towards the size deliveries and dismissive of every little thing else. Verreynne, in the meantime was much less discerning in his shot choice, a hook over deep backward sq. off Abbas revealing his intentions. It was a shot that outlined the session for him; he picked up one other two sixes off Jamal within the ultimate over earlier than lunch the identical method.
When Shan Masood put in three fielders shut in at cowl, Verreynne nonetheless discovered a option to pierce them via that area towards Hamza, whose makes an attempt to induce cowl drives had been profitable, simply not in the best way he had hoped.
On the different finish, Rickelton received to his double hundred with a punch via the off aspect, haring off midway down the sector in celebration. However the highlights all belonged to Verreynne, who greeted Salman’s arrival to the crease with a reverse sweep for 4 off the second ball, and one other one to complete the over off. Verreynne even took Jamal down by plundering 17 in an over.
It wasn’t fairly declaration bowling, however Pakistan are getting there. By the top of the second session, it had arrived.
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
