SA win series despite Pak rearguard

CAPE TOWN:

South Africa eased to a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second Test on Monday in Cape Town to secure a 2-0 series win despite second-innings resistance from the tourists.

Forced to follow on 421 runs behind on the first innings, Pakistan battled to 478 all out but South Africa easily knocked off a target of 58 late on the fourth day.

David Bedingham hit 44 not out off 30 balls as South Africa sealed victory in just 7.1 overs.

Bedingham was opening in place of Ryan Rickelton, who suffered a hamstring strain in the field after scoring 259 in South Africa's first innings of 615.

Earlier, Captain Shan Masood led Pakistan's fightback, scoring 145.

Masood fell to the second new ball, trapped leg before wicket by 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka.

Masood's dismissal came three balls after Kagiso Rabada had Saud Shakeel caught at second slip for 23, ending a 51-run fourth-wicket stand.

Pakistan, a batter short after Saim Ayub suffered a broken ankle while fielding on the first morning, were still 92 runs in arrears after the double blow.

But Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) put on 88 for the sixth wicket and Aamer Jamal hit a quick 34 before the innings was ended.

South Africa's bowlers received virtually no assistance from a placid pitch.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who had been expected to be a major factor on a fourth day pitch, achieved minimal spin and toiled for 45 overs to take three for 137.

Pakistan's 478 the highest ever follow-on score by a visiting team in South Africa

After Pakistan started the day on 213 for one, South Africa picked up two wickets in the morning session, as Khurram Shahzad was caught by Keshav Maharaj at point off seamer Marco Jansen for 18. Kagiso Rabada bowled Kamran Ghulam for 28, a delivery that nipped back off the wicket and crashed into the off-stump.

South Africa took the new ball shortly after lunch and that brought two more wickets, including the key scalp of Masood, who was trapped leg before wicket by 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka.

Saud Shakeel scored 23 before he was caught at second slip by Aiden Markram off Rabada. South Africa will go into the Test championship final against Australia at Lord's in June on the back of seven straight wins -- the second most successful sequence in their history.

Babar opens about on-field clash with Mulder

After a day of fluctuating fortunes, Pakistan batter Babar Azam addressed the media, shedding light on the team's mindset, the challenging conditions, and his own performance as they continued their fightback in the Test match.

Reflecting on the team's approach, Babar emphasized that there was no significant shift in strategy between the first and second innings.

"The mindset remained the same," he said. "The coach told us to stick to our game and focus on building partnerships. Unfortunately, we couldn't do that in the first innings, but Shan [Masood] and I managed to get a good start in the second innings. Hopefully, we can continue with the same momentum tomorrow."

When asked about the pitch conditions, Babar acknowledged their unpredictability, especially compared to Johannesburg.

"The conditions were a bit different than expected. The new ball posed challenges, but once you settle and build partnerships, it becomes easier. There were some patches on the pitch that offered turn and bounce, which made it tricky for both batsmen and spinners. For fast bowlers, if you're set, it's about playing your normal game."

Babar also addressed a heated moment on the field involving South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who struck him with a throw. "It was just the heat of the moment," Babar said with a smile. "These things happen in cricket, and we move on."

The Pakistan skipper was candid about his two dismissals, which left him visibly frustrated. In the first innings, he was caught behind down the leg side, a dismissal he described as "shocking." In the second innings, after building a promising partnership with Shan Masood, he was caught in the gully after chasing a wide delivery.