Rickelton ton puts South Africa in front in wicketless session

Ryan Rickelton's second Test hundred and his century partnership with Temba Bavuma helped South Africa wrest back control on Day 1 of the second Test against Pakistan in Cape Town. Rickelton was unbeaten on 105 and put on an unbroken 112-run stand with Bavuma (50*) as South Africa moved to 184/3 at Tea, having started the session at 72/3.

The control that Pakistan displayed in the latter part of the first session was lacking post lunch as Aamer Jamal was leaking runs, being hit for four fours in the four overs he bowled at the start of the second session. His replacement, Khurram Shahzad, also conceded a few boundaries as the fourth wicket pair raised a fifty stand in quick time. Bavuma and Rickelton were quick to capitalise on anything in their zone, be it short or full, as they displayed a good range of shot-making.

Rickelton entered the 90s with two successive fours off Shahzad, and then moved to 99 with a boundary off Mohammad Abbas. Bavuma took most of the strike for the next couple of overs, leading to heightened anticipation at the ground before Rickelton reached the three-figure mark with a glance off Salman Agha for a four. The boundary also brought up the century stand before Bavuma took a single off Abbas to get to fifty as both batters went into the Tea break unbeaten.

Earlier, it was a productive first hour's play for South Africa, with Rickelton leading the charge. He played some crisp drives to score regular boundaries while Aiden Markram also got going with two successive fours off Mir Hamza. Meanwhile, Saim Ayub twisted his ankle while fielding and had to be helped off the field, and later was taken to a hospital for scans. The bowlers didn't find much help barring the occasional movement as the openers helped South Africa past 50. Markram, who was saved by the umpire's call on the first ball of the match, had another reprieve after the drinks break, dropped by Abdullah Shafique at cover off Shahzad.

At the other end, Rickelton continued to score at a good rate but the opening partnership came to an end when Markram tried to drive a Shahzad delivery pitched outside off and edged it to the 'keeper. Pakistan were a lot more disciplined with their line and length in the second hour but it didn't help that the edges weren't carrying to the slip cordon. But their persistence provided a reward as Wiaan Mulder was the next to depart, caught behind off Abbas who kept bowling in the outside-off channel patiently. Rickelton reached fifty in the final over before the break but South Africa suffered another setback as Stubbs edged behind a delivery from Salman Agha at the stroke of Lunch.

Brief scores: South Africa 184/3 (Ryan Rickelton 106*, Temba Bavuma 51*; Salman Agha 1-15) vs Pakistan.