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

The ongoing SA vs PAK two-match Test series between South Africa and Pakistan will come to an end with the second Test, scheduled to start this week. South Africa vs Pakistan second Test will be played in Cape Town from Friday (January 3).

The SA vs PAK series scoreline is currently 1-0 in the favour of South Africa. South Africa took an unassailable lead in the series after beating Pakistan by 2 wickets in a thrilling game in Centurion last month.

The SA vs PAK 1st game was nothing less than a rollercoaster ride and in the end, South Africa managed to hold their nerve and crossed the finishing line. Set a target of 148 runs, South Africa recovered from 99/8 to chase down the total. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada shared an unbeaten 51-run stand for the ninth wicket to take their team home.

Earlier in the game, Pakistan scored 211 and 237 runs in the first and second innings respectively. On the other hand, South Africa scored 301 runs in their first innings. Here is the preview of the second SA vs PAK Test.

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

SA vs PAK Date and Venue:

The upcoming second Test between South Africa and Pakistan will be starting on Friday (January 3). The game will be played at the Newlands, Cape Town.

Squads:

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.

Pakistan:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha

SA vs PAK Key Battles

Saim Ayub vs Kagiso Rabada:

Saim Ayub was in brilliant form in the limited-overs series against South Africa. The young opener was one of the best batsmen during the white-ball series. In the second T20I of the three-match series, he played a brilliant knock of 98 runs.

He followed it up by scoring two centuries in the ODI series. Expectations were sky high from Ayub in the first Test but he could not live up to it. He did get the starts in both the innings but failed to convert them into big scores. Ayub scored 14 runs in the first innings before scoring 27 in the second.

The southpaw will be looking to bounce back in the second Test. South Africa will be relying on Kagiso Rabada to get rid of Ayub early. Rabada castled Ayub in the second innings of the first Test and will be eyeing more success against him.

Babar Azam vs Marco Jansen:

Marco Jansen will be looking to win his duel against Babar Azam once again. The lanky pacer can trouble any batsman in the world, especially in home conditions as he blew Pakistan away in the second innings.

After taking 1 wicket in the first innings, Jansen picked up 6 wickets in the second innings. One of those wickets was of Babar Azam. The former Pakistan skipper was well set and was batting on 50 when he was dismissed by Jansen.

Aiden Markram vs Mohammad Abbas:

Aiden Markram and Mohammad Abbas were two of the best performers in the first Test and the battle between them could decide the fate of the upcoming game. Markram was adjudged the Player of the Match for scoring 89 and 37 in the game.

On the other hand, Abbas nearly bagged the Player of the Match award after taking 6 wickets in the second innings which put Pakistan on the verge of a famous win. Abbas also dismissed Markram in the second innings and will be looking to send him back once again.

SA vs PAK Key Players

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

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

Conclusion:

A lot is still at stake in the upcoming game even though South Africa have taken an unassailable lead in the series and have already booked their spot in the WTC final. Pakistan can create history by winning the upcoming Test.

They have lost all the 4 Tests that they have played in Cape Town and will be keen to improve their record. On the other hand, South Africa will be keen to win the upcoming game to maintain their hundred percent record against the Proteas.