South Africa cruised to a dominant 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second and final Test in Cape Town on Monday (January 6, 2025), sweeping the series 2-0. Already assured of their spot in the ICC World Test Championship final after their victory in the opening Test in Centurion, the Proteas celebrated their qualification in style. David Bedingham blasted an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls, leading the hosts to a straightforward 58-run target in just 7.1 overs on Day 4, after dismissing Pakistan for 478 in their third innings. From the very beginning, SA had the game firmly in their grasp, amassing 615 runs in their first innings, highlighted by Ryan Rickelton’s superb double-century. Despite Pakistan’s spirited show, including a courageous century from Shan Masood, the modest target of 58 proved little challenge. The Proteas wrapped up the chase quickly, clinching their seventh consecutive Test win and securing the top spot in the WTC standings. Get the SA vs PAK match highlights right here.
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SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Playing XIs
South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka
Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood(c), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Recap Of Day 3
Day 3 saw South Africa enforce the follow-on on Pakistan but the visitors fought back valiantly. Here’s a recap of day 3 for the RSA vs PAK 2nd Test.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Some Stats From 3rd Day
Highest opening stands while following-on in Tests
205 – Shan Masood & Babar Azam (PAK) vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
204 – Graeme Smith & Neil McKenzie (SA) vs ENG, Lord’s, 2008
185 – Tamim Iqbal & Imrul Kayes (BAN) vs ENG, Lord’s, 2010
182 – Marcus Trescothick & Michael Vaughan (ENG) vs WI, St. John’s, 2004
176 – Graham Gooch & Michael Atherton (ENG) vs IND, The Oval, 1990
Pakistan Test captains with hundreds as an opener
149 – Saeed Anwar vs NZ, Rawalpindi, 1996
133 – Aamer Sohail vs AUS, Karachi, 1998
102* – Shan Masood vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
Highest partnerships for PAK while following on (any wicket)
205 – Shan Masood & Babar Azam vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
154 – Hanif Mohammad & Saeed Ahmed vs WI, Bridgetown, 1958
152 – Hanif Mohammad & Imtiaz Ahmed vs WI, Bridgetown, 1958
148 – Saeed Anwar & Saleem Malik vs AUS, Rawalpindi, 1994
137 – Imtiaz Ahmed & Mushtaq Mohammad vs ENG, The Oval, 1962
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Action Begins
As Day 4 begins, Keshav Maharaj is expected to play a crucial role with signs of turn visible on Day 3. Marco Jansen continues his spell, keeping the pressure on Khurram Shahzad with three slips, a gully, and a backward short leg in place.
Switching to round the wicket, Jansen delivers a back-of-a-length ball on off at 129kph, which Shahzad defends confidently. The short ball follows but strays down the leg side, allowing Shahzad to duck under it with ease.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Marco Jansen With Ball
Marco Jansen keeps the pressure on Khurram Shahzad with a probing line and attacking field, featuring two slips and two gullies, leaving a tempting gap in the cordon. Switching to round the wicket, Jansen delivers a ball shaping into the stumps, which Shahzad presses into the covers.
The next delivery sees Shahzad hopping back and across to stab the ball into the covers again. On the final ball of the over, Jansen pitches on a good length, and Shahzad firmly pushes it back down the pitch off the front foot.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Loud Appeal
Marco Jansen bowls a length delivery from around off, shaping in, and makes a confident LBW appeal. Shan Masood, slightly out of sync, tries to defend with his bat and pad close together. Luckily for him, the ball clips the inside edge and strikes his pads, causing the umpire to turn down the appeal.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: FOUR
Keshav Maharaj bowls a poor delivery to Shan Masood, short and leg-sided, which Masood happily flicks for four runs around the corner. In the next delivery, Maharaj appeals loudly for a catch at slip as the ball straightens and climbs from round the wicket.
There’s confusion as the umpire signals no, explaining that the ball struck too high on the hip to be an LBW, and it looped off Masood’s body with no edge involved.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: WICKET
South Africa finally grab the wicket they were trying for, and it’s no surprise that Marco Jansen delivers the breakthrough.
Khurram Shahzad pushes with an open face, his feet planted outside leg stump, as Jansen extracts lift and away movement from over the wicket. The ball flies to Keshav Maharaj at point, who takes a sharp catch, putting South Africa firmly in the mix.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Drinks Break
Keshav Maharaj tosses it up, and Ghulam steps down the track to punch it crisply past extra cover. A sharp chase prevents the boundary, and a direct hit could have had Ghulam in trouble, but he survives. With that, the players head off for a well-deserved drinks break.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Oh, FYI
In Test cricket history, only two venues have seen five different bowlers take 50 or more wickets. One of them is the Galle International Stadium, where Muttiah Muralitharan (111), Rangana Herath (102), Prabath Jayasuriya (71), Ramesh Mendis (62), and Dilruwan Perera (57) have achieved this feat.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Markram Marking Wicket
Aiden Markram [1.0-0-6-0] returns to the attack. A bowling change sees Markram rolling his arm over against the two left-handers at the crease, with a slip and short leg stationed for support.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Lunch Break
The morning session saw 28 overs bowled, yielding 99 runs and two wickets, as Shan Masood led his team’s fightback. The deficit now stands at 109 runs, a significant improvement from the daunting position when they were asked to follow-on yesterday.
Keshav Maharaj bowled the bulk of the overs in this session but remained wicketless despite his efforts. Marco Jansen struck early, removing the nightwatchman in the first hour, and could have had another if Bedingham hadn’t dropped a catch at slip. The reprieve went to Ghulam, who lived dangerously with loose shots outside off but eventually fell to Kagiso Rabada, who got one to nip back in.
Masood remains resolute, keeping his team’s hopes alive as they head into the second session.
PAK 194 & 312/3 (f/o) (77)
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Second Session Begins
We are back, and Kwena Maphaka returns to the attack with the second new ball just three overs away. The Proteas will hope it brings a change in fortunes, while Pakistan aim to keep the grind on. A slip is in place for Maphaka as he starts with a length ball angled in, tucked to mid-wicket by Saud Shakeel.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: BIG WICKET
A big wicket for South Africa as Kwena Maphaka finally breaks through Shan Masood’s resistance for a magnificent 145. The ball skidded through low, leaving Masood squared up and staying at knee-height. Despite Verreynne’s belief that it was outside the line, the review showed three reds on off stump, sending Masood back to the pavilion.
This breakthrough will undoubtedly boost the Proteas’ bowling attack’s morale, especially after the youngster earned his share of the new ball and made it talk.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Fun Stats
Shan Masood’s 145 marks the second Test century by a Pakistan captain against South Africa, following Misbah-ul-Haq’s 100 in Abu Dhabi in 2013.
Highest Individual Scores for Pakistan vs South Africa in Tests
146 – Khurram Manzoor, Abu Dhabi, 2013
145 – Shan Masood, Cape Town, 2025
136 – Azhar Mahmood, Johannesburg, 1998
135 – Taufeeq Umar, Cape Town, 2003
132 – Azhar Mahmood, Durban, 1998
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Proteas’ Keeping It Tight
Wiaan Mulder kept it tight in his over, testing the batters with his consistent lines. He started by angling a good-length delivery on middle and off, which Salman Ali Agha comfortably blocked. Salman managed to get off strike with a single off the second ball, working a back-of-a-length delivery towards fine leg.
Mulder then kept Rizwan on his toes, bowling a nagging delivery around off stump that was softly defended. Rizwan closed the over by adding two runs, steering the final delivery into a gap to keep the scoreboard ticking.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Rizwan-Salman Showing Intent
Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha look to steady Pakistan’s innings, but the Proteas’ bowlers continue to apply pressure. Wiaan Mulder kept it tight, starting with a fullish delivery at 129kph that Rizwan drove back to the bowler, who mockingly gestured a throw.
Mulder followed up with two consecutive outswingers, both beating Rizwan’s bat as he attempted loose drives outside off. A sharp exchange of words added to the intensity.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Tea Break
Pakistan have set a new record for the highest Test score by a visiting team following on in South Africa, surpassing Australia’s 372/7 declared at Old Wanderers in 1902. South Africa gained momentum with the second new ball, as Rabada dismissed Saud Shakeel in the slips and debutant Maphaka removed Masood for a gritty 145, thanks to a successful review.
Pakistan, trailing by 92 runs at the time, found stability through Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha.
The duo stitched together an unbeaten fifty-run stand, chipping away at the deficit, which now stands at just 23 runs. Rizwan overcame a nervous start to settle in, while Agha displayed composure at the other end. Can they lead Pakistan to an incredible comeback? The final session promises plenty of action!
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Pakistan Are Chasing Win
Rizwan steps up against Maharaj with a bold slog-sweep. The ball wasn’t perfectly placed for the shot, and the flight seemed to have him momentarily, but his impeccable timing and eye made the difference. He sent it racing through midwicket, bringing up the 400 with an authoritative stroke.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Scores Are Equal
Maharaj bowls to Aamer Jamal, and it’s a dreadful full toss, thrashed effortlessly through square leg for four. Aamer’s off the mark, leveling the scores, and South Africa will have to bat again!
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Fun Stats
Highest first innings deficit overcome while following on
473 – PAK vs WI, Bridgetown, 1958 (drawn)
421 – PAK vs SA, Cape Town, 2025
400 – SA vs AUS, Sydney, 2002 (lost)
397 – SL vs ENG, Chester-le-Street, 2016 (lost)
396 – WI vs NZ, Dunedin, 2013 (drawn)
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: WICKET
Superb take at slip. Salman Agha lived dangerously in that over. He pushed hard on the front foot, tempting trouble, and the ball gripped, sending a thick edge flying to Markram’s right. Markram made it look effortless, grabbing it firmly with both hands. Agha’s near half-century comes to an end.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: SIX!!!
Rabada bowls to Mir Hamza, and Hamza responds with a huge SIX, blasting the ball over long-off. The very next delivery, Hamza punches it square and sets off for a single, but is immediately sent back as the fielding side reacts quickly.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Innings Break
What an innings by Pakistan, but what a short road to victory for South Africa! With just 58 runs needed to clinch both the Test and the series, the Proteas are on the brink. Despite being forced to follow-on after a poor first innings, Pakistan fought back hard, with Masood leading the charge.
The second new ball brought some much-needed breakthroughs, yet another stubborn partnership has kept the home team on their toes.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Proteas In Chase Mode
Salman Agha bowls to Bedingham, and it’s exactly what Pakistan were fearinga, huge SIX! Agha tosses one up at 84kph, and Bedingham wastes no time. He steps down the track, perfectly meets the ball, and sends it soaring over long-off for a brilliant six.
SA vs PAK Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 4: Boundaries
Salman Agha is certainly feeling the heat today, taking a beating that will stay with him for a lifetime! Bedingham is absolutely on fire, hitting everything in sight, and Agha’s struggling to keep up with the batter’s aggressive onslaught. Fifty up in just 33 deliveries.
South Africa Win By 10 Wickets
Pakistan’s epic second-innings rearguard fire fizzles out as South Africa take over, with David Bedingham leading the charge to seal the victory. Saud Shakeel bowls to Bedingham, and with a quick chop through the covers for a single, South Africa win by ten wickets.
It’s a case of delayed gratification after Pakistan fought hard, but the Proteas finish strong. Bedingham’s brilliance with the bat ensures South Africa’s seventh consecutive win and a well-deserved spot in the WTC final.
Ryan Rickelton, Player of the Match says, ‘Over the moon with the side getting the win. My first innings knock still hasn’t sunk in. I went in with no expectations, trusted myself, and luckily it came through. When you get into a groove, thoughts come into your head, but I try to stay true to where I am. I felt the vibe and the atmosphere, and they (crowd) were behind me. It was very special for me. (On his injury) I should be ready for Thursday.’
That’s a wrap for this match. We’ll be back with another live blog soon. Until then, goodbye.