Sat Jan 04 14:49:09 UTC 2025: ## Rickelton Makes History with Record-Breaking Double Century in Cape Town Test
**Cape Town, South Africa** – Ryan Rickelton etched his name into South African cricket history on Saturday, becoming the first Proteas opener to score a double century (259) at home. His monumental innings, spanning two days of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, propelled South Africa to a commanding position.
Rickelton’s marathon knock, featuring 29 fours and three sixes, surpassed his previous 16 Test innings’ total combined. He reached his double hundred off 266 balls and eventually fell short of a triple century by just 41 runs, showcasing an impressive display of batting prowess. His score is only bettered by Gary Kirsten (275) and Graeme Pollock (274) in home Test matches for South Africa.
The 28-year-old’s performance overshadowed centuries from captain Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreyne, as South Africa amassed a total exceeding 550 runs against a struggling Pakistan bowling attack. Rickelton’s innings is only the eighth instance of a South African batsman scoring over 250 runs in a Test innings, a testament to the remarkable achievement.
This landmark score is a significant turnaround for Rickelton, who had previously accumulated only 357 runs in his first 16 Test innings. His double century catapulted his overall Test aggregate past 600 runs and his average beyond 43. The young opener’s stunning performance adds a new chapter to South Africa’s rich cricketing history.
First Piper 