South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Match Preview, Prediction and Live Streaming

Pakistan lost the first Test match the way only they are capable of losing. They knew the victory would not do them any good, except better their dismal record in the country, which when one comes to think of it, is more than just good. But the point stands, Pakistan had almost no chance of making it to the WTC final but they made the Proteas experience, albeit momentarily, how that feels.

Regardless of how close the victory was, South Africa have become the first team to qualify for the WTC final. They will be happy that a must-win game will not decide their fate in the Championship. Nevertheless, now that both teams are at a place where no mention of the WTC final will be considered healthy, Pakistan have a decent chance to get back at the hosts. And it’s also about time Pakistan did that. The last time they won a Test match in the country was eighteen years ago and with all the resources they have and the fact they will face a complacent South Africa, the visitors really do have a decent chance.

Team Overview:

Babar Azam scored a Test fifty in the previous game after 19 innings. While Pakistan would have benefitted from more runs than an on-the-dot fifty, seeing one of their better players get past his slump will fix several things for Pakistan. Mohammad Abbas was phenomenal. He was miserly with his lines, religiously stuck to his variations, and enjoyed the fruit his efforts bore.

To say, Abbas’s seven wickets did not make Pakistan fans grimace remembering all the times when the men in green fell short of taking 20 wickets while he was left out, would be a lie. But he has made enough case for himself to stay in the team, at least for a while to come. Curiously enough, Pakistan have decided against announcing their squad a day earlier for the Test. Perhaps the visitors would want a look at the surface before deciding if Salman Ali Agha’s part-time off-spin would be enough to tackle the Newlands pitch’s devils.

South Africa, on the other hand, have added a specialist spinner to their squad. Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will make way for Keshav Maharaj and Kwena Maphaka for the second Test, while Tony de Zorzi’s thigh strain will see Wiaan Mulder coming back into the playing eleven. South Africa will once again bat deep, with Marco Jansen coming to bat at No. 8. This was one of the factors that distinguished them from Pakistan in the last game too, and they would very much like to capitalize on it once more.

Head-to-Head Matches:

Both sides have played 29 Test games against each other, out of which South Africa outdid Pakistan in 16 games, while Pakistan won 6. Seven matches ended without any result. Pakistan last won a Test match in South Africa back in 2007.

Weather and Pitch Report:

Temba Bavuma said he is not allowed to talk about the pitch. Though he said it jokingly, it’s true. One must not talk about the Newlands pitch. It acted diabolically the last time a Test match was played here, which was exactly a year ago. The game lasted for less than five sessions before India won it by seven wickets on Day 2.

The surface had heavy rollers go over it several times in the past days, which reduced the grass greatly. This means one can expect the surface not to unleash the similar torment it did in the last game played here. However, bowlers will get favored more than batters anyway. Spinners will come in handy in the later part of the game.

Weather will be dry and pleasant to play, though the winds are forecasted to be strong for the duration of the game.