South Africa have won the toss and have elected to bat first against Pakistan in the second and final test at World Sports Betting Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.
The hosts lead the two-match series after clinching the opening test at Supersport Park in Centurion by just two wickets , thanks to a cavalier batting display from South Africa’s premium fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, who cracked five boundaries from just 26 deliveries to end unbeaten on 31.
Rabada shared in an unbroken stand of 51 with Marco Jansen (16 not out) to guide the Proteas to 150 to clinch the game after the home side had collapsed from 96 for four to 99 for eight as Mohammad Abbas tore through the home side, claiming 6-54 in 19.3 overs.
The win ensured that the Proteas will play in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s later this year, either against Australia, India or outsiders, Sri Lanka.
With the hosts already having qualified for the WTC final, there might seem little to play for. However, having won six straight test matches and eight consecutive home tests against Pakistan, South Africa have the chance to continue the trend of not having won a test series at home to Pakistan across three decades.
A win here would also give the home side a confidence boost ahead of the WTC final as there are no test matches after this one.
For Pakistan, it is a chance to break a trend, having never won a series on South African soil, having lost eight-consecutive matches and currently having won just two of their last nine tests. The visitors will most certainly want to end off their tour on a high, especially after clinching the ODI series 3-0.
The Proteas have made some changes from the winning Centurion combination with Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj coming in for the injured Tony de Zorzi and Corbin Bosch while the young and exciting Kwena Maphaka making his test debut in place of Dane Paterson.
SOUTH AFRICA – Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.
PAKISTAN – Shan Masood (capt), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad.
