The ongoing SA vs PAK two match test series between South Africa and Pakistan will conclude with the second Test, scheduled to begin this week. The second South Africa vs Pakistan Test will be played in Cape Town from Friday (January 3).
SA vs PAK series score is currently 1-0 in favor of South Africa. South Africa took an unassailable lead in the series after defeating Pakistan by 2 wickets in a thrilling game in Centurion last month.
The first SA vs PAK game was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride and in the end South Africa managed to hold their nerve and crossed the finish line. Set a target of 148 runs, South Africa recovered from 99/8 to chase down the total. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada shared an unbeaten 51-run stand for the ninth wicket to take their team home.
At the start of the game, Pakistan scored 211 and 237 runs in the first and second innings respectively. On the other hand, South Africa scored 301 runs in the first innings. Here is the preview of the second SA vs PAK test.
SA vs PAK Match Preview – 2nd Test, Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2024-25:
SA vs PAK Date and Venue:
The second Test between South Africa and Pakistan will begin on Friday (January 3). The match will be played at Newlands, Cape Town.
Teams:
South Africa:
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Pakistan:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
SA vs PAK key battles
Saim Ayub vs Kagiso Rabada:
Saim Ayub was in scintillating form in the limited overs series against South Africa. The young opener has been one of the best batsmen in the white-ball series. In the second T20I of the three-match series, he played a brilliant knock of 98 runs.
He followed it up by scoring two centuries in the ODI series. Expectations were very high from Ayub in the first Test but he could not live up to it. He got the starts in both innings but was unable to convert them into big scores. Ayub scored 14 points in the first half before scoring 27 in the second.
The southpaw will look to bounce back in the second Test. South Africa will rely on Kagiso Rabada to get rid of Ayub early. Rabada bowled Ayub in the second innings of the first Test and will be more successful against him.
Babar Azam vs Marco Jansen:
Marco Jansen will look to win the duel against Babar Azam once again. The weak pacer can trouble any batsman in the world, especially in home conditions, because he blew Pakistan away in the second innings.
After taking 1 wicket in the first innings, Jansen took 6 wickets in the second innings. One of those wickets was Babar Azam's. The former Pakistan captain was well set and batting on 50 when he was dismissed by Jansen.
Aiden Markram vs Mohammad Abbas:
Aiden Markram and Mohammad Abbas were two of the best performers in the first Test and the battle between them could decide the fate of the upcoming game. Markram was named Man of the Match for scoring 89 and 37 in the game.
On the other hand, Abbas almost won the Man of the Match award after taking 6 wickets in the second innings which put Pakistan on the brink of a famous victory. Abbas also dismissed Markram in the second innings and will look to send him back once more.
Key players SA vs PAK
ON – Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will be some of the key players for South Africa.
PAK – Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas will be the key players for Pakistan.
Conclusion:
There is a lot more at stake in the upcoming game, even though South Africa have taken an unassailable lead in the series and have already booked their place in the WTC final. Pakistan can create history by winning the next Test.
They have lost all 4 Tests they have played in Cape Town and will be keen to improve their record. On the other hand, South Africa will be keen to win the upcoming match to maintain their hundred percent record against the Proteas.