Pakistan looks for positives after South Africa completes Test series | Cricket news

South Africa registered a 10-wicket win in the second Test to win the cricket series 2-0 despite Pakistan’s late response in Cape Town.

South Africa sealed a 2-0 cricket series win over Pakistan with an easy ten-wicket win in the second match in Cape Town despite second-half resistance from the tourists.

Forced to post 421 runs in the first innings, Pakistan batted to 478 all out. But South Africa, who qualified for the World Test Championship final last week, easily eclipsed the target of 58 late on Monday.

David Bedingham hit 44 off 30 balls as South Africa cruised to victory by just 7.1 runs on the fourth day of the match.

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

Captain Shan Masood led Pakistan’s fight, scoring 145 runs.

After the result, Masood said he believes there are better days ahead for Pakistan as they held out for long periods in difficult conditions.

“There were a lot of good things (in the series),” Masoud said. “Knowing that we did really well (in Pretoria) but we didn’t finish it. Even here, we didn’t start well with the ball and the bat.

“We conceded too many runs at the start and then went down with the bat (in the first innings) on a really nice surface. But then, we got our highest score against South Africa in Test cricket. Individually, people stepped up.”

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

His three-ball dismissal came after Kagiso Rabada caught Saud Shakeel at second slip for 23, ending a 51-run for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan, who were dealt a short blow after Saim Ayub broke his ankle while playing on the first morning, were still 92 runs behind after the double blow.

But Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Agha (48) scored 88 runs for the sixth wicket and Aamir Jamal scored a quick 34 before the innings ended.

The South African bowlers received almost no help from the quiet pitch.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was expected to be a key factor in the fourth day’s pitch, hit a minimum of spin and toiled for 45 overs to take three for 137.

Mesut will rue the fact that his side allowed South Africa to score 615 runs in the first innings, which meant the tourists were always chasing the game.

Not that this is anything new, Pakistan have played well recently but have also performed poorly under pressure. Masood will be hoping they will be more consistent in the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies which starts on January 17.

Masoud said: “We have to learn how to win decisive moments. “We bounced back well against England (to win the group 2-1 in October). With our backs against the wall, we did well.

“But we have to learn how to throw the first punch. We have a lot of young cricketers who will learn and fortunately we will go straight into another series with the West Indies.

Meanwhile, South Africa will go into the Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in June on the back of seven straight wins – the second most successful sequence in their history.