On Thursday, a guy approached a group of individuals outside Newlands who were standing there with accreditation passes. “What cricket is on tomorrow?” he said, hoping they would answer.
“A Test,” he was informed, “between Pakistan and South Africa.”
He seemed deflated. He responded, “Ah,” and gave the woman he was with a thumb jerk. “I can’t take her to that.” He plainly believed this to be a self-evident fact: she is definitely a woman. She thus had no interest in Test cricket, which is equally clear.
Her grin was benign. Presumably, he continued their stroll along Campground Road. She trailed behind.
That women, or at least some women, don’t watch Test cricket, according to some men? Or that some individuals dislike watching Test cricket, regardless of gender?
The guy and lady were out of sight before those questions came to mind, and the reality of it all remained elusive.
Unquestionably, however, Friday’s play was captivating enough to hold the attention of the nation’s most disengaged audience: “Oh, the mountain! The lovely weather, oh! Isn’t cricket the world’s greatest gift from the gods?
Even the finest umpire in the game right now, Nitin Menon, is unlikely to give someone a stick with the first delivery of a Test match. After Shan Masood inspected, the devices indicated that the ball would strike off-stump. However, not sufficiently to alter Menon’s choice.
Sayim Ayub, who hit two hundreds in three innings during the ODI series between the two countries last month, injured his ankle fielding close to the long-on boundary and had to leave the field in a buggy just thirty minutes later.
In the forty-five deliveries prior to lunch, South Africa lost Markram, Wiaan Mulder, and Tristan Stubbs to loose strokes.
With a cover drive that was equal parts pious and obscene, Ryan Rickelton took a wide delivery from Mohammad Abbas out for four runs seven overs before tea. Rickelton reached 99 as a result.
With an unbeaten score of 176, Rickelton achieved his second century in 17 Test innings and his second trip to the crease in five. And in the July light, his sword gleams boldly, his most fluid. A left-hander who jumps on the front foot with purpose has a certain charm, and Rickelton possesses it in plenty.
Compared to other venues, Newlands has saw him do it more frequently. This is both Rickelton’s third century and his third first-class match here.
In the sixth over before stumps, Bavuma, who batted more steadily but more slowly than Rickelton, reached his fourth century with a single to square leg from Aamer Jamal.
In January 2016, he scored his first at the same stadium in his ninth innings against England, scoring 102 not out. He made another hundred, 172, against the West Indies at the Wanderers in March 2023 after eighty-eight innings. Bavuma has scored three hundreds in his past twelve innings. Captaincy obviously agrees with him because he averages 57.78 after 15 innings in charge.
Bavuma’s celebration of his most recent century was as fervent as his batting was not. Removing his helmet, he sprinted toward the Kelvin Grove End far into the outfield, pumping both elbows as he went, sliding to a knee, rising and pumping again, and throwing his bat without, fortunately, dropping it. It was hard to determine if he was joyfully mad or fiercely happy.
The last rush of wickets before lunch brought Bavuma and Rickelton together, and they shared 235, the most fourth-wicket partnership in South Africa’s history against Pakistan and the largest of all for that wicket at Newlands.
The true star of the show was in the midst of all of that. Following a 107-over Test match against India last January, curator Braam Mong was rightfully criticized for creating what could have been described as a mongrel of a pitch in tabloid language.
That fiasco was taken as seriously by Newlands as it takes itself. To get core samples, they dug into the surface; these samples showed no issues below ground.
The idea that the Newlands ODI match against Pakistan last month may be rescheduled to Paarl, Cape Town’s younger brother, in order to save face was categorically refuted. Therefore, a senior Western Province official cocked a snook at one of the reporters when they arrived at Newlands for that match, asking, “Shouldn’t you be in Paarl?”
In the Paarl winelands, any day is good. However, for the home team and their supporters, Friday at Newlands, where South Africa amassed 316/4, was as near to flawless cricket as it gets. Pakistan would concur as well. In every way, the pitch was essential to it.
Do the rest of us a favor if you can’t take someone to a cricket match like this.
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