Pak vs SA: Proteas post 316/4 as Rickelton, Bavuma score tons on Day 1 of second Test

The pair put on 235 for the fourth wicket after the pair came together with the total on 72 for three.

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South Africa ended day one of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on a dominant 316/4, with Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma both scoring centuries to put the hosts in a commanding position.

Having won the toss, South Africa chose to bat first on what appeared to be a good batting wicket, and their openers provided a solid foundation, putting on 61 runs before the first wicket fell.

Pakistan faced an early setback when Saim Ayub twisted his ankle while fielding. He was helped off the field and later taken to a hospital for scans, leaving Pakistan's fielding unit shorthanded.

Rickelton and Aiden Markram then put on a steady 61-run partnership for the first wicket before Markram was dismissed for 17, caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Khurram Shahzad’s bowling.

Wiaan Mulder, making his return after injury and promoted to number three, contributed five runs before offering a simple catch to Rizwan off Mohammad Abbas.

Rizwan claimed his third victim just before lunch when Tristan Stubbs, yet to get off the mark, edged spinner Salman Agha’s delivery to the keeper.

The pitch, the same one used for the shortest-ever Test match a year ago when India defeated South Africa in Cape Town, had provided some early seam movement. However, by the afternoon, it played true for the batters, with South Africa adding 112 runs in 27.1 overs without losing a wicket in second session.

The solid partnership between Bavuma and Rickelton continued into the final session. Rickelton brought up his maiden Test century with a boundary off Shahzad as Bavuma followed suit, reaching his own century with a single off Jamal, marking the first instance of two batters scoring centuries on day one of a Test at Newlands since February 2013, when Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq achieved the feat.

Pakistan finally got some relief when Bavuma was dismissed late in the day, caught behind off an Agha delivery.

Rickelton, however, continued to bat resolutely alongside David Bedingham, as south Africa added 132 runs in the post-tea session as the pair put on 235 for the fourth wicket.

Rickelton, 28, played a fluent and aggressive knock, striking 21 fours and a six, and finished the day unbeaten on 176. He had moved from his usual position at number three to open the batting following an injury to Tony de Zorzi.

South Africa ended the day at 316/4 after 80 overs, with the final session yielding 132 runs in 30 overs.

It has been a tough day for the visiting bowlers, with Aamer Jamal bearing the brunt, conceding 85 runs in his 15 overs without taking a wicket.

Salman Ali Agha was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, claiming two wickets, while Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas each took one wicket.

With a place already secured in June's World Test Championship final at Lord's, South Africa is eyeing a 2-0 series win after claiming a narrow two-wicket victory in the first Test in Pretoria.

The home side also handed a debut to 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, who made history as the youngest player to represent South Africa in Tests, taking over from former spinner Paul Adams.

Teams:

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

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