Rickelton smashes double ton as South Africa advances to 429-5 in second Test against Pakistan

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Ryan Rickelton smashed his first double century and Kyle Verreynne made an aggressive half-century as World Test Championship finalists South Africa cruised to 429-5 on the second day of the second and final Test against Pakistan on Saturday. .

At lunch, Rickelton was unbeaten on 213 and Verreynne hit eight fours and four sixes in his 74 off 88 balls as they guided South Africa to a strong first innings total by sharing an unbroken 106-run sixth-wicket stand.

Mohammad Abbas (2-70) got the only wicket of the session when David Bedingham edged the seamer in Pakistan’s fourth over of the morning off the second new ball, giving wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan his fifth catch of the innings.

Pakistan went twice for failed TV lbw reviews against Verreynne, who was not only aggressive against the pace but also did not allow Salman Ali Agha (2-77) to calm down by reverse-sweeping the spinner.

Rickelton, resuming on 176, quietly reached his double century off 265 balls when he hit left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza into the covers for a single. Rickelton celebrated his highest score in first class by raising both arms to acknowledge the applause of his teammates. Rickelton’s authoritative 295-ball knock is combined with 25 fours and a six.

Rickelton had laid a solid foundation for a strong total in South Africa after sharing 235 runs with captain Temba Bavuma, who scored 106, and had anchored the home team at 316-4 on day 1.

Pakistan’s four-pronged attack has lacked pace to trouble South Africa’s batsmen on the dry wicket after the visitors rested key fast bowler Naseem Shah for the second Test.

Verreynne came down hard on Aamer Jamal just before lunch when he pulled the fast bowler for two consecutive sixes over square leg and then played an exquisite straight shot off the next ball for a boundary.

South Africa had sealed their place in June’s WTC final at Lord’s with a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion.

Pakistan already suffered a major setback when in-form opener Saim Ayub was ruled out for the rest of the match with a fractured right ankle after slipping awkwardly on the field on Day 1.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that Ayub will be outside of competitive cricket for up to six weeks.

___

AP Cricket: