The Proteas completed a 10-wicket victory in the final session on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, chasing a target of 58.
Pakistan started the morning on 213-1, still 208 runs shy of making the home side bat again, and showed plenty of resistance as they batted 122.1 overs for a total of 478 all out, giving the visitors a lead of 57.
Visiting captain Shan Masood led from the front with 145 while there were further contributions from Salman Agha (48), Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Aamer Jamal (34) as the home side’s bowlers toiled for the better part of two days.
Kagiso Rabada ran in manfully for most of the day in the Cape Town heat and finished with figures of 3-115 in 25.1 overs while spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a marathon 45 overs to take 3-137.
Young left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka, who is making his debut, was impressive in a seven-over spell before and after the lunch interval taking 1-17 and constantly beating the bat. The debutant eventually finished with figures of 1-47 in 13 overs.
After Pakistan collapsed to 194 all out in the first innings, the visitors certainly shattered a few records with the bat the second time around.
It was Pakistan’s highest-ever total against the Proteas in Test cricket, while it also eclipsed the highest score from a team following-on against the hosts.
The Proteas then had 45 minutes if they wanted to knock off the runs and have an off day on Tuesday, and sent David Bedingham in to open the innings with Aiden Markram in the absence of double-centurion Ryan Rickelton.
Bedingham made the most of the license and freedom he was given as he smashed 47 from just 30 balls. The Proteas took 7.1 overs to complete the victory with a full day to spare.
The success at Newlands also means the Proteas have now seven consecutive Test matches under the guidance of head coach Shukri Conrad with the next long-format encounter the small matter of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.
