Sun Jan 05 14:40:00 UTC 2025: ## South Africa Coasts to Victory in Second Test Against Pakistan

**Cape Town, South Africa** – A week after a nail-biting victory in Centurion, South Africa cruised to a dominant position in the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, leaving the series firmly in their grasp. The stark contrast between the two matches highlighted South Africa’s superior performance this time around.

While the Centurion Test was a tense affair decided in the final moments, the Newlands match has been a more one-sided affair. Pakistan, forced to follow-on after being 421 runs behind, faces a daunting task of scoring 208 more runs to avoid an innings defeat. South Africa, needing only nine more wickets, are firm favourites to win.

Pakistan’s innings was punctuated by a strong opening partnership of 205 runs between Shan Masood (102*) and Babar Azam (81). Masood’s century was Pakistan’s first in South Africa since 2013, and Babar’s elegant innings showcased his class. However, despite these individual performances, Pakistan’s overall batting effort lacked the necessary consistency.

South Africa’s bowling, meanwhile, was marred by a concerning number of no-balls – 23 in the match, adding to a worrying trend of 86 no-balls in their last six Tests. Bowling coach Piet Botha acknowledged the issue, attributing it to a combination of fatigue, concentration lapses, and environmental factors. He assured that the team is working to rectify the problem.

A minor on-field incident involving Babar Azam and Wiaan Mulder added a touch of drama late in the day, though it ultimately had little bearing on the match’s outcome. Babar, dismissed for 58 in the second innings after a loose shot, reflected on his performance, stating that while he started strongly, he failed to capitalize and score the big runs needed.

With a significant lead and a strong grip on the match, South Africa is poised to secure a comfortable victory, solidifying their place in the World Test Championship final. The contrasting performances in the two Tests underline South Africa’s ability to dominate when playing to their full potential.

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