Pakistan search for positives after South Africa complete Test series sweep

South Africa seal 10-wicket win in the second Test to win the cricket series 2-0 despite Pakistan’s late fightback in Cape Town.

South Africa have wrapped up a 2-0 cricket series win over Pakistan after easing to a 10-wicket victory in the second match in Cape Town despite second-innings resistance from the tourists.

Forced to follow on 421 runs behind on the first innings, Pakistan battled to 478 all out. But South Africa, who qualified for the World Test Championship final last week, easily knocked off a target of 58 late on Monday.

David Bedingham hit 44 not out off 30 balls as South Africa sealed victory in just 7.1 overs on the fourth day of the match.

Bedingham was opening in place of Ryan Rickelton, who suffered a hamstring strain in the field after scoring 259 in South Africa’s first innings of 615.

Captain Shan Masood led Pakistan’s fightback, scoring 145.

Following the result, Masood said he believes there are better days ahead for Pakistan as they held their own for long periods in challenging conditions.

“There were lots of good things [in the series],” Masood said. “Knowing we did really well [in Pretoria] but didn’t close it out. Even here, we didn’t start off well with ball and bat.

“We conceded too many runs initially, then we folded with the bat [in their first innings] on a really nice surface. But then the fightback, we made our highest score against South Africa in Test cricket. Individually, people stepped up.”

Masood fell to the second new ball, trapped leg before wicket by 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka.

His dismissal came three balls after Kagiso Rabada had Saud Shakeel caught at second slip for 23, ending a 51-run fourth-wicket stand.

Pakistan, a batter short after Saim Ayub suffered a