South Africa have already booked their place in the final of this year’s World Test Championship as the team looks set to continue their momentum when they face Pakistan in the second and final Test at Newlands on Friday.
South Africa beat Pakistan by two wickets in a tense first Test in Pretoria and have won their last six Red Ball matches in a row, their joint best run since nine consecutive victories by one team in 2002 and 2003.
That form has propelled them into the WTC final at Lord’s in June but questions about their crumbling batting line-up will focus on what has been a dangerous Newlands pitch of late.
The previous Test against India, 12 months ago, lasted just 107 overs as the visitors won by seven wickets in two days, the shortest Test in which there has been a winner in history.
The wicket should be better this time, but at a ground that used to be a fortress for the home team, they have lost two of their last three Tests in Cape Town.
“We certainly haven’t been clinical or ruthless when the occasion or the situation has called for it,” said South Africa captain Temba Boma. “But I think what we’ve done is we’ve found ways to make sure the result is in our favor.
“If I look at our batting group, we don’t have any batsmen averaging 45 plus. We are all in the mid-30s and late 30s, which shows that at one point or another people in the team Some are going to contribute.”
Chasing 148 on a difficult wicket at Centurion Park, Pakistan will regret not ending the first Test by reducing South Africa to 99-8, with only all-rounder Marco Johnson and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada to guide the hosts to victory. can do
Pakistan captain Shan Masood has also spoken about the need for his team to be more ruthless with both bat and ball.
“We keep making the same mistakes but we have to cross the line and take advantage of the moments,” he said. “There are moments where you get that extra cushion and we have to finish the game. We have to play our batting and bowling well. It has to end.”
Pakistan have won just two of their last 16 Tests in South Africa, and none since 2007. He has lost in all four previous visits to Cape Town.
There is likely to be a lot of holiday crowds and they should relish the opportunity with the house calendar over the next 18 months.
According to the ICC’s Future Tours program as it currently stands, this will be South Africa’s last home Test until they tour Australia in September 2026, and their only home international in all three formats in 2025.