THERE is just no better place to play Test cricket at this time of the year than Newlands in Cape Town. Here, you can still taste the spirit of the festive season in the air, with families and friends having returned home to the Mother City.

The beautiful weather, love for the sport in this city and of course, Table Mountain overlooking Newlands, all make for the perfect way to start the year for cricket fans and players alike.

Over the last three days, South Africa and Pakistan danced the dance that started over a century ago at this picturesque stadium, with the people of Cape Town having filled up the stadium each day.

General view of Newlands Cricket Ground during day two of the International Test Series 2024/25 match between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on 4 January 2025 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

With South Africa already 1-0 up in the two-match series following their victory in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion last week, and having qualified for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in London this winter, the hosts went into the second and final Test here at Newlands quite confident.

From the get-go, the hosts dominated, scoring a mammoth 615 runs over two days, with Ryan Rickelton scoring a record-breaking 259 while hometown heroes Temba Bavuma (106) and Kyle Verreynne (100) brought up centuries to help South Africa set what is their highest total in the ongoing WTC campaign.

Rickelton's double century was the first by a South African since Hashim Amla's 201 against England here at Newlands almost a decade ago. In fact, the 259 off 343 was the first by a South African opener on home soil since Herschell Gibbs's 228 against the same opposition at this very ground.

Ryan Rickelton of South Africa celebrates his double century during day two of the International Test Series 2024/25 match between South Africa and Pakistan at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on 4 January 2025 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

With the ball, led by Kagiso Rabada (3/55) and Keshav Maharaj (2/14), South Africa bundled out the visitors for 194, leaving them trailing by 460 runs, forcing them to follow-on in the second session of the third day of the Test.

While Rabada and Maharaj did what they do best, it was 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka who stole the show on Day Three.

On debut, as the country's youngest-ever Test cricketer, Maphaka helped South Africa break a 98-run stand between Pakistan's premier batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the first innings.

The teenager went on to return figures of 2/43 in the first innings, playing a pivotal role in South Africa's bowling of Pakistan out for 194.

In reply, Pakistan batters Shan Masood (102*) and Babar Azam (81) remained resolute in the second innings, frustrating the hosts as they led the visitors to 213/1 at stumps on Day Three.

Cape Times