Kwena Maphaka celebrates his first Test wicket after dismissing Babar Azam of Pakistan during day three of the International Test Series match at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. BackpagePix
South Africa: 615 all out (Ryan Rickelton 259; Mohammad Abbas 3/94)
Pakistan: 165/6 (Babar Azam 58; Kagiso Rabada 2/28)
NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN - SOUTH Africa's youngest ever Test cricketer, Kwena Maphaka, claimed the esteemed wicket of Pakistan's premier Test batter, Babar Azam, for his maiden wicket and broke a 98-run stand that the batter had built alongside Mohammad Rizwan in the first session on Day Three.
Having started his Test career bowling from the Kelvin Grove end on Day Two, the 18-year-old changed ends and bowled from the Wynberg end on Day Three as the Proteas searched for a partnership-breaking wicket as Azam and Rizwan were slowly getting into their work in the first session.
Maphaka came on to bowl following spells from Kagiso Rabada (2/28) and Marco Jansen (1/36) to get the day started and eventually accounted for Azam (58), helping South Africa break the 98-run fourth-wicket stand.
The left-arm quick got the edge of Azam’s bat with a leg-side delivery as the batter looked to flick the ball to the fine leg boundary and gloveman Kyle Verreynne took a clean catch to send the youngster off celebrating his maiden Test scalp.
Azam’s innings of 58 runs off 127 balls seemed to be the turning point that the former Pakistan captain needs having struggled in 2024, scoring only one half-century in nine innings.
Less than five overs later, Wiaan Mulder got in on the wickets, accounting for Rizwan (46) as South Africa edged closer to forcing the visitors to follow-on having made a mammoth 615 runs in their first innings dig.
Rizwan's dismissal was no one else's fault but his as the right-handed batter walked down the wicket to the medium-pacer and outrageously swung looking for a big shot only to drag the ball back to his stumps to hand the Proteas their fifth wicket.
Given that the visitors are a batter short following opening batter Saim Ayub's match-ending injury on Day One, Rizwan’s shot was uncalled for as he looked good for his 82-ball 46.
On the stroke of lunch, Keshav Maharaj got in on the fun, beating Salman Agha with flight and turn as Verreynne completed a clean stumping to leave Pakistan trailing by 460 runs.
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