SA vs PAK Match Prediction- 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25

South Africa and Pakistan will be facing each other in the second and final Test of the ongoing SA vs PAK series from Friday (January 3, 2025). The game is scheduled to be played at the Newlands, Cape Town.

The home side has taken the lead in the series following the thrilling 2-wicket victory in the series-opener in Centurion. The win also saw South Africa become the very first team to book a place in the final of the World Test Championship.

Chasing 148 runs to win the game, South Africa were in deep trouble after being reduced to 19/3 and then 99/8. However, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada held their nerves and came up with a brilliant unbeaten partnership of 51 runs to take their team over the finishing line.

Earlier in the game, Pakistan scored 211 runs in the first innings with Kamran Ghulam scoring a fifty. For the home side, Dane Paterson picked up 5 wickets while debutant Corbin Bosch took 4 wickets.

In reply, South Africa scored 301 runs to take a handy lead of 91 runs. Aiden Markram top-scored for the hosts, scoring 89 while Bosch remained unbeaten on 81. In the second innings, Pakistan scored 237 runs with Jansen picking up 6 wickets.

SA vs PAK Match Prediction- 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25:

SA vs PAK Key Factors

Pitch Conditions

The pitch for the second SA vs PAK Test will be very much focused because of what happened during the last Test played at this venue. The last Test played in Cape Town was between India and South Africa in January 2024.

It was a low-scoring game with most of the batsmen from both sides struggling to make an impact. The pacers completely dominated the proceedings while spinners did not bowl a single over in the game. South Africa scored 55 and 176 runs in two innings while India scored 153 and 80/3 to win the game by 7 wickets.

Later, the ICC had rated the pitch as 'unsatisfactory' under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. While the conditions might improve a bit for the batsmen in the upcoming game, bowlers are still expected to dominate the match.

Form and Fitness

South Africa had a couple of injury concerns ahead of the first Test. While both Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj were in the squad, they were not fully fit. Both the players are still in the squad and are likely to be available for the upcoming game. For Pakistan, there are no injury concerns as of now.

Score Prediction

SA vs PAK Players to perform prediction

SA - Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada are the key players for South Africa.

PAK - Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Kamran Ghulam, and Mohammad Abbas are the key players for Pakistan.

SA vs PAK Best Batsman Prediction

Who will score the most runs for SA in the match: Temba Bavuma or Tristan Stubbs

Who will score the most runs for PAK in the match: Saim Ayub or Kamran Ghulam

SA vs PAK Best Bowler Prediction

Who will pick the most wickets for SA in the match: Kagiso Rabada or Marco Jansen

Who will pick the most wickets for PAK in the match: Mohammad Abbas or Naseem Shah

Conclusion - Who will win the Match?

South Africa will be starting the second Test against Pakistan as the favorite and is expected to win the game.

The Proteas have never lost a Test against Pakistan in Cape Town and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record. Pakistan, on the other hand, will have to come up with something special to stun the hosts.