SA vs PAK 2nd Test Results

4:33 PM IST SOUTH AFRICA'S MARCO JANSEN HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES. 10 wickets with the ball and also 80 runs with the bat. Says that he didn’t expect it but was very much pleased with it. Talks about his role which is just trying to impact the team whether it is a new ball or an old ball. He just is a happy man if the team wins, regardless of his performance. Mentions that when the pitch doesn’t do much, he makes plans as per the players and he is happy to do that. On being asked whether he loved batting more or bowling, in this series, Jansen says batting, talking about his score of 62 in the first innings here, where he hit the ball pretty well and was happy to make a contribution for his team as it comes in handy in winning the match. Concludes that he is proud of his batting and jokes about being a lower order batter making a contribution is always handy for any team in the world.

4:31 PM IST The victorious skipper of South Africa, TEMBA BAVUMA is up for a chat. He says the result in this game is the most pleasing thing and appreciates the way the team took it on them and performed. Mentions it was good old Test cricket and is satisfied by how the game panned out with batters and bowlers both contributing at the right times to put them in a good position. Talks about the young Kwena Maphaka and says he will be in the South African colours for a long time. Lauds Maphaka's temperament and appreciates his effort in this game. On being asked about the WTC final at Lord's he says they are looking forward to it and having to go up against Australia will be tough but great.

4:30 PM IST What would disappoint Bavuma more is that forget the fact that wickets were not coming, but the South African team was losing its mettle. They resorted to sledging and were frustrated and rattled, clearly not the sign of a top team. Such pitches and days are necessary for every team, so that they get a honest check of their bowling resources and their fitness. Kagiso Rabada eventually picked up 3 wickets but he was struggling with a dodgy knee while even Bavuma was fighting fitness and cramps. Not to forget, Ryan Rickelton did not take the field on Day 4 at all, due to a hamstring strain. After toiling hard for 122.1 overs, they finally got the job done, with Keshav Maharaj taking 3 towards the end. Not to mention - 18 no balls in that third innings, 13 by Rabada alone. Ouch. The Proteas were lucky that no wicket fell on a no ball. The bowling coach really has his work cut out before the WTC final. Amidst the gloom though, a youngster stood out. 18-year old Kwena Maphaka ran in really hard in that third innings and really troubled the Pakistan batters, showing a glimpse of South Africa's bright future. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

4:24 PM IST SOUTH AFRICA'S RYAN RICKELTON HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his wonderful 259 in the first innings. He says he is over the moon with the victory and his knock hasn't quite sunk in yet but looking back he will cherish it for a long time. Adds that it was more of a mental challenge that he went past and trusted himself and is happy it came through. Talks about how he tries to keep his head in the present and not worry a lot about what is to come ahead which gets him into a groove. States that he loves playing here and appreciates the support he gets and mentions how special it was to have his family here to witness it all. Concludes that his injury should get better and they will monitor it closely until Thursday (9th January, that's when Rickelton's team - MI Cape Town - plays its first match in SA20 2025).

4:21 PM IST Will Temba Bavuma ever enforce a followon after this match? Ha ha ha, definitely not for the next few months. His bowlers were excellent in Pakistan's first innings, with Kagiso Rabada rocking the Asians hard with 3 wickets. Everyone who bowled got a wicket and the innings ended so soon that perhaps, the team thought that the bowlers are in form and can wreck Pakistan apart. But what they got in the opposition's second innings, was a total surprise.