South Africa continued their dominant form in Test cricket by securing their seventh consecutive victory against Pakistan in the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town. This historic win, a testament to South Africa’s consistency, also highlighted remarkable individual and team performances that set several records.
South Africa’s Winning Streak
With this win, South Africa registered their second-longest streak of consecutive Test victories. Their best record stands at nine successive wins during the 2002-03 season, which also featured two home victories against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s struggles in South Africa continued, marking their ninth consecutive Test defeat in the country – the longest streak for any visiting team.
Following-On and Fighting Back
Pakistan made history by producing their highest score of 478 while following on, surpassing their previous best of 250 against South Africa in Durban in 2002. They faced a 400-run deficit in the first innings, making this match one of only three in Test history where a team has erased such a significant lead. Remarkably, all three instances occurred in January, with the trailing team batting second after being asked to follow on.
Run-Fest in Cape Town
The Test witnessed an astonishing 1,348 runs scored across both innings, making it the highest-scoring Test in South Africa since 2016. Pakistan batted for 122.1 overs in their second innings, the most they have ever managed after being asked to follow on. Shan Masood’s standout knock of 145 became the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter in South Africa, surpassing Azhar Mahmood’s 136 in 1998.
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Rabada’s Mixed Day
Kagiso Rabada had a bittersweet performance. While he played a crucial role in South Africa’s bowling attack, he also recorded an unwanted milestone. Rabada bowled his 50th no-ball in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the highest in the competition, with 17 no-balls in this match alone. Thirteen of those came in Pakistan’s second innings, highlighting an area for improvement despite his effectiveness with the ball.
A Test of Endurance for Bowlers
The match also challenged South Africa’s bowlers, with three of them conceding over 100 runs in Pakistan’s second innings. Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj joined a rare list of South African bowlers to achieve this unenviable feat in a home Test. This was only the fourth instance in the 21st century and the 14th time overall in South Africa’s Test history.
Historical Context
The Cape Town Test added another chapter to the rich history of cricket in South Africa. It reflected the resilience of Pakistan’s batting and the dominance of South Africa’s winning streak. For cricket enthusiasts, the match was a thrilling reminder of the unpredictable nature of Test cricket.
South Africa’s impressive form continues to underline their resurgence, while Pakistan takes lessons from a gritty performance despite the loss. As the World Test Championship progresses, both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses.
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