Pakistan limp to 64-3 after Rickelton’s double century takes South Africa to 615

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa amassed 615 runs thanks to Ryan Rickelton’s career-best 259 and then reduced Pakistan to 64-3 over hurdles on Saturday’s second day of the second Test in Newlands.

Pakistan, already down one batsman after Saim Ayub broke his ankle in the field on Friday, are 551 runs away.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada found the outside edges of captain Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel, while Marco Jansen pulled the stump of Kamran Ghulam to leave Pakistan 20-3 in the ninth over.

But Babar Azam, who took over as opener in Ayub’s absence, was unbeaten on 31 off 77 balls and Mohammad Rizwan was not out.

Rickelton’s sublime 10-hour innings included 29 fours and four sixes. The left-hander scored South Africa’s first Test double century in eight years.

But it took a backseat as South Africa resumed the day at 316-4 as Kyle Verreynne showed off an array of shots and scored exactly 100, his fourth Test hundred. Verreynne dominated the 148-run stand with Rickelton as Pakistan struggled to separate the pair.

Pakistan struck in the fourth over of the morning when David Bedingham edged Mohammad Abbas and gave Rizwan his fifth catch behind the wickets.

Verreynne survived two early lbw reviews before quickly scoring against a tiring Pakistan attack. South Africa added 113 runs in the first session, losing only Bedingham.

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 and the audience.

After lunch, Verreynne completed his hundred (South Africa’s third innings alongside Temba Bavuma’s 106 on Friday) off 144 balls with nine fours and five sixes with a single off Abbas to point. He was attempting a difficult sweep against Salman Ali Agha and holed out deep into midwicket.

Rickelton and Jansen then combined for 86 for the seventh wicket until Rickelton’s long innings ended when he edged Hamza at third slip just before tea.

Jansen continued to flay Pakistan’s attack, smashing eight fours and three sixes in 62 off 54 balls. No. 9 Keshav Maharaj added 40 off 35 before South Africa were eliminated.

Abbas led Pakistan with 3-94.

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