The South African cricket team found themselves in a strong position after the first day’s play against Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town, with captain Temba Bavuma leading the charge by scoring a century. Ryan Rickelton also made a significant contribution with an unbeaten 176, his second Test century.
Rickelton expressed his delight at his performance, stating, “I’m bloody chuffed, to be honest.” His partnership with Bavuma, who scored a brilliant 106, helped the Proteas reach a commanding total of 316/4 after a shaky start at 72 for three before lunch. This partnership of 235 runs for the fourth wicket set the tone for the day’s play.
The 28-year-old Rickelton had previously scored his first Test century against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, and his innings at Newlands was even more enjoyable for him. He described the experience of scoring a century at such an iconic ground as a dream come true and expressed his happiness at having his family present to witness the moment.
Replacing the injured Tony de Zorzi as an opener, Rickelton looked comfortable from the start and grew in confidence as the day progressed. He praised the quality of the pitch, which allowed him to score quickly and expand his game without much difficulty.
Rickelton also shared his joy for captain Bavuma, who reached his century before getting caught by the wicket-keeper off spinner Agha Salman. The Proteas opener emphasized the importance of posting a big first innings total and utilizing spinner Kesh Maharaj later in the match.
As the Proteas look to build on their strong start, Rickelton and David Bedingham will resume their innings on Saturday morning. The team will aim to capitalize on their solid foundation and set themselves up for a successful second Test against Pakistan.
