South Africa Vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: Ton-Up Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma Helm RSA's Dominance

Welcome to the live coverage 🐼of Day 1 of the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan beingඣ played at the Newlands in Cape Town.

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c),😼 David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka

Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood(c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Aame꧅r Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas

South Africa have won the toss and have opted to bat, and here's what th🅰e skipper Bavuma had to say.

"We are going to bat. Wicket looks drier, expect it to break up and assist the spinners. We know what lies ahead for us. Our focus has been on the preparati🐭on for this Tes♑t."

Masood: "Less grass than usual. We wanted to have a bowl. The nature of this ground is there's some𒐪thing in it for the bowlers in the first session. We've seen quite a number of wickets fall, the target would be that. You just have to weigh it up against is it going to that dry that it goes to the fifth day and spin comes in, so both teams got what they wanted to do."

"It's another opportunity to do that (achieve the goals). If we learn from that, we'll build on a lot of good stuff that we did. A lot of things went right, good team performances and also some standout individual performances and you want them to end up in the winning side. Naseem Shah is resting, Mir Hamza comes in. Like Souꦯth Africa, we want to have four seamers. Seam will play a big role."

Youngest Test debutants for South Africa
18y, 270d - Kwena Maphaka vs PAK, Cape Town, 2025
18y, 340d - Paul Adams vs ENG, Gqeberha, 1995
19y, 1d - Arthur Ochse vs ENG, Gqeberha, 1889
19y, 28d - Dante Parkin vs ENG, Cape Town, 1892
19y, 48d - Williಌam Shalders vs ENG,𒅌 Cape Town, 1899

We are up and running in Newlands, Cape Town as South Africa open with Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram. For Pakistan, ౠMohammad Abbas and Mir Hamza open proceedings with the new cherry in hand.

When the two openers have driving well, really well against a new ball, you just know they have started well. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton are on the charge, exquisite timin𓆏g and the runs on the board speak for itself. Top start.

Saim Ayub has gone down, twisted his ankle. The pictures don’t look really good, and out comes the physio to g⛎ive Saim Ayub a bit of a cautious tre🥂atment, Massive, massive concerns for Pakistan, especially how Ayub has played on the tour. 

A good start turns into a better🌠 one for South Africa. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton have been as solid as ever, looking cool, calm and composed. Pakistan have introduced their third seam in Khurram Shahzad looking for a breakthrough.

Mir Hamza is keeping it tight, bowling to Mulder. In the 16.1 over, he delivers a full 132kph ball on middle and off, which Mulder blocks solidly. In the next delivery, 16.2, Hamza sends a peach in the corridor of uncertainty, seaming away nicely. Mulder plays for the orig♓inal line but is beaten on the outside edge.

Agha Salman strikes again, providing a bonus wicket as he bowls Tristan Stubbs out for a duck. Tossed up outside off, Stubbs attempts to punch it to mid-off but geღts a healthy edge, which is safely caught by Mohammad Rizwan.

This marks another impressive comeback for Pakistan i🧸n the second hour, having picked up three quick wickets after a slow start. It’s been a brilliant fightback, and the players head to lunch with Pakistan on top.

South Africa had a promising start with Rickelton and Markram going strong, but Pakistan's pacers found their rhythm post-drinks, pulling things back. Despite a solid first hour, South Africa lost three qui🌄ck wickets, much to their disappointm✱ent. Pakistan's bowling change at lunch resulted in a key wicket, giving them momentum.

Agha, who impressed with his bite, could play a key role in the second session, while Abbas is expected to bowl long spells. With nothing at stake for South Africa, who’ve 𝓀already qualified for the World Test Championship final, their middle order will now be tested.

Aamer Jamal bowled an over-pitched delivery to Temba Bavuma, drifting onto his pads. Bavuma leaned into the length with perfect balance, effortlessly clipping the ball in front of square for a beautiful bouꦆndary.

T🐻he timing and placement were impeccable, showcasing Bavuma's c♚onfidence at the crease.

Mir Hamza bowled to Bavuma, who left the first delivery through to the keeper as it rose past the off stump. On the next ball, Hamza came round the wicket, pitching back of a length and attempting to ꦉstraighten the ball off the seam, but Bavuma comfortably pushed it to cover, defending solidly.

Mir Hamza bowls to Bavuma, and it's 4 leg byes. The ball shapes into the legs, and Bavuma flicks it away. It's a bit closer to the 🐭keeper than intended, but it hits his hip and races away for four runs.

Salman Agha delivered a full ball outsideℱ off, which Bavuma knocked down to long-on for a single. Earlier, a loopy full delivery outside off saw Bavuma lunging forward to block, sending it gently towards covers.

Another ful🐠l ball outside off brought Bavuma half-forward, with the ball coming off the inner half of the bat to short leg, showing a touch of꧒ extra bounce.

A dominant session for South Africa as Rickelton and Bavuma batted with poise, punishing loose deliveries. Rickelton’s second Test ton showcased his brilliance off both front and back foot, while🎀 Bavuma's steady half-century provided so൲lid support. Pakistan's bowlers lacked discipline, and their energy in the field dipped, allowing the duo to take full control. The visitors desperately need a breakthrough to turn things around. Stay tuned for the final session.

Salman Agha bowls to Temb♏a Bavuma, and it's a boundary. Rizwan is heard shouting "nahi, nahi, nahi" (no, no, no) as Agha delivers a short-pitched ball. The line is off-target, too straight, and Bavuma capitalizes. He moves deep🌜 in the crease and effortlessly pulls the ball behind square on the leg side for a crisp four.

Khurram Shahzad returns to th🌼e attack, bowling at 134kph, as Temba Bavuma clips a length ball to short midwicket without scoring. In the next delivery, Shahzad bowls at 130kph, a short-of-length ball, which Bavuma turns to square leg for no run.

Khurram Shahzad bowls to Bav꧒uma, no run – The ball hits the deck and holds its line wide♚ of off. Bavuma pushes it towards mid-off from the depth of the crease.

Khurram Shahzad bowls to Ryan Rickelton, who picks up two runs. The delivery i💎s wide of the crease, offering a length that allows Rickelton to break free. He delicately drives it past the diving short cover fielder and swiftly completes a quick two.

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma departs, but not before scoring a defiant century (106 off 179 balls). Agha Salman induces Bavuma's edge and Pakistan 'keeper Mohammad Rizwan does well to hold on. The hosts are now four down, but have crossed the 300-run mark. David Bedingham has joined Ryan Rickleton, who is looking good for a double hundred, at the crease. And stumps are called at the 80-ovꦿer mark. South Africa's day without doubt

RSA - 316/4 in 80 overs at stumps on Day 1