Proteas clinch series

CA TOWN. — South Africa got over the line in the second Test cricket against Pakistan at Newlands yesterday morning to claim the series win, but it was far from comfortable.

The Proteas needed 48 minutes on the fourth morning to score the 41 runs needed to win the second Castle Lager Test match against Pakistan by nine wickets at PPC Newlands in Cape Town.

Starting their second innings on day four needing just 41 runs for victory, openers Dean Elgar (24*) and Theunis de Bruyn were subjected to a barrage of short-pitched bowling as the Pakistan seamers looked to give the hosts some of their own medicine.

De Bruyn was elevated to the top of the batting order as regular opener Aiden Markram was being treated for a bruised hip after crashing into the advertising boards while fielding on Saturday.

De Bruyn, though, continued his struggles to solidify a position in this Test side when he was out for just 4, going after a short ball from Mohammad Abbas only to edge through to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps.

That brought Hashim Amla to the crease, but the 35-year-old lasted just 5 balls before he received a nasty blow to the arm from Mohammad Amir.

Amla had tried to get forward to a delivery that was just back of a length, but the ball spat up and crashed into his right bicep.

Retired hurt on 2, Amla plodded of the Newlands turf looking rather sorry for himself to join Markram on the injured list.

Elgar and skipper Faf du Plessis (3*) saw South Africa over the line and while the 9-wicket win looked comfortable on the scoreboard, those who were at Newlands for the 48 minutes of play yesterday saw that it was anything but.

It is South Africa’s seventh straight Test series win at home, while they have also never lost a home series under the leadership of Du Plessis.

It is an impressive record that dates back to the 2015/16 when Amla stepped down from the captaincy midway through a home series against England that the Proteas would go on to lose.

Since then, though, South Africa have been dominant on their own turf.

Meanwhile, The Proteas will have to do without the services of captain, Faf du Plessis at the Wanderers after he was suspended for one Test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for over-rate infringements during the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands.

Needing 41 on the fourth day to secure the Test and the series, South Africa easily achieved victory yesterday morning. — Sport24