Ryan Rickelton Smashes A Flawless Test Hundred In Cape Town Vs Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton scored his second Test hundred [Source: @LawrenceBailey0/x.com]

South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton, thrust into the limelight as an opener due to Tony de Zorzi’s injury, grabbed his chance like a duck to water. On Day 1 of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, the left-hander smashed a century that had class written all over it.

Ryan Rickelton Batted Like A Prodigy to Bring Up His 2nd Test Ton

Ryan Rickelton proved his mettle as he reached his second Test ton in style. The big moment came in the 46th over, with Salman Agha delivering a full ball drifting down leg.

The youngster, ever so calm, glanced it past the keeper to the fine leg boundary. The crowd erupted, and why wouldn’t they? A century on his home turf was the stuff of dreams. Helmet off, bat raised high, Rickelton soaked in the applause while his skipper, Temba Bavuma, wrapped him in a warm hug. The Newlands crowd gave him a standing ovation.

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Rickelton’s knock wasn’t just about the runs; it was about how he got them. He danced down the track when needed, played with a straight bat, and left anything outside off. 

With just 5.8% false shots, his innings was a masterclass in discipline. To put it in perspective, only two South African openers: Dean Elgar in 2017 has had better false-shot percentages in their Test hundreds since 2007.

South Africa Ahead In The Game

South Africa found themselves in hot water at 72/3 after being 61/0. But Rickelton and Bavuma joined forces and steadied the ship with a crucial partnership.

By the time of writing this article, the Proteas were sitting at 181/3, with Rickelton on 105 and Bavuma on a steady 50. The pair brought some calm to the storm and have put South Africa in a good spot to push for a big first-innings total.

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