Browsing: Proteas

World champions South Africa recovered to draw their series in Pakistan 1-1 by completing a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the second Test in Rawalpindi.

Hosts Pakistan, winners by 93 runs in the first match to end the Proteas’ 10-Test winning run, resumed in trouble on 94-4 in their second innings with a lead of 23, and slipped further when they lost Babar Azam lbw to Simon Harmer for 50.

That started a collapse of 6-44 on the fourth morning, with Essex off-spinner Harmer taking 6-50 and Pakistan falling to 138 all out.

Harmer’s sixth wicket, Noman Ali caught behind by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, was his 1,000th in first-class cricket.

The Proteas, who play two Tests away against India next month, took just 12 overs to reach their target of 68, even with the loss of Aiden Markram for 42 and Tristan Stubbs for a four-ball duck.

Victory was their first in Pakistan for 18 years, ending a four-match winless run in the country.

While Harmer’s haul all but sealed victory, South Africa’s advantage was gained in the first innings when, responding to Pakistan’s 333, their final two wickets added 71 and 98 runs to reach 404 – a lead of 71.

All-rounder Senuran Muthusamy made 89 not out and number 11 Kagiso Rabada a career-best 71.

“It was a really good response after the first Test and we were put under pressure in this Test once again,” said South Africa captain Markram.

“There were moments where guys had to put their hands up and stand up for the team, and they really did that, and then excelled in that.

“We take a lot of confidence and a lot of belief from the win, but when your character is tested and you manage to come out on the right side, that means quite a bit more.”

Pakistan captain Shan Masood backed his side’s tactic, first used against England last winter, of preparing turning pitches for Tests.

“It’s been four wins out of six since we’ve operated on these wickets,” he said.

“Obviously, the wickets have got a bit better. They’ve been much more battable.

“Four out of six isn’t bad. considering in the two Test matches we’ve lost we got into winning positions. Had we finished those games off it could easily have been six out of six.”

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Pakistan ended world champions South Africa’s unbeaten run by completing a 93-run victory in an entertaining and hard-fought first Test in Lahore.

The Proteas, whose 10-match winning streak in Test cricket culminated in victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final in June, were dismissed for 183 in pursuit of 277.

Having resumed on 51-2, they lost first-innings centurion Tony de Zorzi lbw to left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi to the third ball of the day to push the finely-poised chase in Pakistan’s favour.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who took 10-191 in the match, removed Tristan Stubbs for two and bowled Dewald Brevis, who offered some resistence with a run-a-ball 54.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan also took advantage of sharp turn to end opener Ryan Rickelton’s stay – he lasted 145 balls for 45 runs – and Shaheen returned in the afternoon session to knock over the tail with a fine display of reverse swing.

He had Kyle Verreynne lbw for 19 and bowled Prenelan Subrayen and Kagiso Rabada to seal the win.

It was both sides’ first match of the 2025-27 Test championship cycle and moves Pakistan straight into second place behind leaders Australia.

Their victory was built around contributions of 93 by opener Imam-ul-Haq and, crucially, number seven Salman Agha which lifted them to 378.

From there spinners Noman and Sajid took advantage of favourable home conditions, as they did in their Test series win over England last year, to maintain their advantage.

The second and final Test begins on 20 October.

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England announced themselves in supreme fashion with a dominant win over South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup (Images via X/@englandcricket) England opened their Womenâ€s World Cup campaign in dominant fashion, thrashing South Africa by 10 wickets at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. The contest ended well before the scheduled innings break as South Africa were bundled out for just 69, their third-lowest total in Womenâ€s ODIs, before England chased down the target in 14.1 overs. Linsey Smith, playing her first World Cup, starred with the ball, returning with figures of 3 for 7. She removed captain Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Marizanne Kapp in quick succession to break South Africaâ€s top order.

Women’s World Cup prediction: Greenstone Lobo explains which team has best chance to win

Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/5), Sophie Ecclestone (2/19) and Charlie Dean (2/14) added to the damage, leaving the Proteas reeling at 19 for 4 and eventually dismissed in 20.4 overs. Only wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta showed resistance with 22 off 36 balls, but she found no support at the other end. Nine South African batters were dismissed for single-digit scores as Englandâ€s bowlers exploited movement with the new ball. Englandâ€s chase was straightforward. Tammy Beaumont (21*) and Amy Jones (40*) adopted a cautious start before opening up, putting away the loose deliveries. They overhauled the target with 215 balls to spare, which is also the fourth-most balls remaining in a successful ODI chase for England Women. England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt praised her sideâ€s all-round performance, saying, “Yeah, massively pleased. It just seemed like everyone was really on it in the field. We had a few first-ball wickets as well, so yeah, it all clicked into action for us.†She also lauded Smithâ€s impact, adding, “She just stuck to her strengths… we knew she was a really good match-up to those two batters.†South African captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted her side fell short. “Not our best work with the bat, but in saying that, I donâ€t think weâ€ve become a bad batting unit overnight,†she said. “We probably didnâ€t expect that much swing… we probably could have played straighter lines.â€

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This was Englandâ€s first-ever 10-wicket win over South Africa in ODIs, and their third such win in World Cups overall. They now hold a 7-2 World Cup record against the Proteas, showing the massive upper hand in the rivalry. With this emphatic result, England have announced themselves strongly in the tournament, while South Africa will look to regroup quickly for their next fixture against New Zealand on October 6.

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