Ryan Rickelton of the Proteas celebrates his double century during day two of the International Test Series match against Pakistan at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Saturday. BackpagePix
South Africa: 429/5 (Ryan Rickelton 213*; Mohammad Abbas 2/70)
NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN - Proteas stand-in opener, Ryan Rickelton, brought up his maiden Test double century in the first session on Day Two as South Africa tightened their grip on the second and final Test against Pakistan, taking a 429-run lead to the lunch break.
Post Day One, Rickelton repeated multiple times during his engagement with the media that he "just wanted to keep batting" for South Africa, and boy did he back his statement in the first session on Day Two.
Having batted the entire opening day of the Test on Friday, Rickelton picked up where he left off, hitting his signature straight drives against the second new ball and finally reached his maiden double century in the searing heat at Newlands.
It took the 28-year-old 446 minutes to reach the milestone as he not only became the 30th South African to score a 200-plus score in Test cricket, but also the first to do so since Hashim Amla's 201 against England here at Newlands almost a decade ago.
Moreover, Rickelton's double ton became the first by a South African opener since Graeme Smith's 234 in Dubai almost 12 years ago and the first by a South African opener on home soil since Herschelle Gibbs' 228 against Pakistan here in Cape Town over two decades ago.
The significance of Rickelton's effort marked an end to a chapter in South African cricket that seemed to last a lifetime, a chapter where Test centuries were a rare occasion following the retirements of the likes of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.
The hunger for runs within the side was further put on display by wicket-keeper batter Kyle Verreynne as the 27-year-old raced to an 88-ball 74 in the first session, combining for 106 runs for the sixth wicket with Rickelton.
Verreynne was his usual self, taking out the sweep shots against the spinners while being aggressive against the shot balls from the visiting quicks as he smashed eight boundaries to go with his two sixes.
The pair guided South Africa to the lunch break with a healthy 429/5 on the board.
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