Left Arm Around

Ryan Rickelton struck a magnificent double hundred to give South Africa the strong upper hand on day two of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands.

His score of 259, featuring 29 fours and three sixes, is now the joint-seventh highest Proteas’ score in a single Test innings- drawing level with legendary former captain Graeme Smith.

The 28-year-old marked his promotion to opener in place of the injured Tony De Zorzi with a calculated yet ruthless innings, pouncing on any loose deliveries to reach his second Test ton.

First combining with Temba Bavuma (106) in a counter-attacking partnership of 235 to lift the hosts out of a spot of early trouble, Rickelton continued on his merry way with the support of Kyle Verreynne to take the total beyond 450.

Verreynne extended his strong resurgence in the longest format with a fourth Test century of his own-and third in as many months- taking advantage of a flat batting surface in Cape Town.

A tired and somewhat toothless Pakistan attack then suffered further pain at the hands of Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj, who hit brilliant cameos of 62 and 40 to lift the final total to 615 all-out.

Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, Aamer Jamal and Salman Ali Agha all conceded over 100 runs apiece in an expensive day for the visiting bowlers.

The likes of Rickelton, Bavuma and Verreynne should take credit for the intent and quality of their knocks, but Pakistan may be ruing the lack of plan B and absence of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Adding insult to injury, Pakistan suffered the loss of three early wickets before the close.

Kagiso Rabada removed Shan Masood in the first over and Saud Shakeel for a duck, while Marco Jansen bowled Kamran Ghulam for 12.

Talisman Babar Azam was promoted to open in place of the injured Saim Ayub, but the tourists can be optimistic that he remains 31 not out.

Both Azam and Muhammad Rizwan will need a significant partnership on day three for Pakistan to have any hopes of salvaging a positive result.