Ryan Rickelton Joins League Of South African Legends With Epic 259 Vs Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton celebrating his innings against Pakistan [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]

South African opener Ryan Rickelton notched up his career-best first-class score through the course of his marathon knock against Pakistan in the series-deciding Cape Town Test. The 28-year-old mounted 259 runs after occupying the crease for nearly a day-and-a-half.

With his recent effort, Rickelton also hauled South Africa’s only tenth 250-plus individual score in Test cricket to join a gallery of Protean greats.

Ryan Rickelton joins Amla, Villiers for huge record

Ryan Rickelton carted 29 boundaries and three huge sixes to wear down Pakistan bowlers for more than four sessions of the series-deciding second Test at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The lanky opening batter mounted 259 regal runs from 343 deliveries to belt his career-best first-class score, and his innings also marked only the second century of his short Test career so far.

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In doing so, Rickelton also became only eighth South African batter in history to scale the 250-run mark in Tests. Notably, only Hashim Amla managed to convert it into a triple ton, and the former South African cricketer breached the 250-run landmark figure twice in his career. Former captain Graeme Smith also carted 250 runs in an innings twice in his career, doing so in a space of a week back in July 2003 in England.

Rickelton’s innings now marks the eighth-highest individual score by a South African in Tests. Here is a look at all 250-plus knocks tallied by South African cricketers in the format.

Ryan Rickelton was eventually dismissed by Pakistan fast bowler Mir Hamza during the afternoon session of Day 2.

His captain Temba Bavuma and wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne also crafted scintillating centuries as South Africa reached 566-7 by Tea break.

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