Cricket-Rickelton reaches 50 as South Africa 72-3 at lunch against Pakistan

By Nick said

CE TOWN – Opener Ryan Rickelton scored an unbeaten 50 off 73 balls as South Africa reached 72 for three at lunch on the first day of the second and final Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday, but lost some key wickets late in the session.

Left-hander Rickelton hit seven fours in a fluent innings and will resume after the interval with captain Temba Bavuma, who is yet to face a ball.

The wicket is the same strip used when India beat South Africa by seven wickets in 107 overs of the last five-day match played in Cape Town 12 months ago, the shortest test to have a winner in history.

While there has been some movement in the seams, there are not the same demons on this wicket and Aiden Markram and Rickelton looked relatively comfortable putting on 61 for the first wicket.

That was before Markram was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan while bowling Khurram Shahzad for 17, a good take off a lower edge as the batsman looked to drive.

Wiaan Mulder, back in the team after injury and promoted from his usual lower-middle-order position at number three, scored five before giving a simple chance to Rizwan bowling Mohammad Abbas.

Rizwan claimed the ball from his third victim before lunch when Tristan Stubbs beat spinner Salman Agha towards the keeper without managing to score.

South Africa have already claimed their place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against yet-to-be-confirmed opponents, but are looking to win this series 2-0 after claiming a tense first Test by two wickets in Pretoria.

The home side have given 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka his debut as one of three changes to their team. He is the youngest player in the country’s Test history, replacing former spinner Paul Adams.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.