Cape Town Classic: South Africa Seal Series Whitewash with 8-Wicket Rout of Pakistan in New Year’s Test

South Africa rang in the new year with a resounding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2nd Test at Newlands, Cape Town, on January 3-7, 2026, completing a 2-0 series whitewash — their first clean sweep against Pakistan in Tests since 2007. Chasing a modest 168 on a day-five pitch that offered variable bounce and sharp turn, the Proteas knocked off the runs in 38.2 overs for the loss of just two wickets, with Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 78 off 102 and David Bedingham’s brisk 52 off 68 forging an unbroken 112-run stand. Pakistan had posted 298 in the first innings — Babar Azam’s gritty 112 the standout — but were bowled out for 236 in the second, with Keshav Maharaj claiming 6 for 82. South Africa’s first-innings 367 — built on Aiden Markram’s 142 — proved decisive. The series result vaults South Africa to 2nd in the WTC standings (PCT 61.11) and extends their unbeaten home streak to 11, while Pakistan slump to another away whitewash.

Newlands’ iconic Table Mountain backdrop framed a classic Test, with the pitch starting seamer-friendly before gripping for spinners on days four and five. Markram’s toss win and decision to bowl first exploited early moisture, but Babar’s century kept Pakistan competitive until Maharaj’s spell. For Babar, the whitewash is a bitter pill in his first full series as captain — his side’s batting average a dismal 21.4 — and questions will mount over their subcontinental-style preparation for bouncy tracks. As Bavuma flicked the winning single off Abrar Ahmed amid joyous celebrations, the home summer ended on a high.

South Africa XI Aiden Markram (c), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Pakistan XI Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Zeeshan Zameer

Pakistan 1st Innings – 298 all out (98.2 overs) Ayub (18) and Fakhar (28) fell to Jansen inside 15 overs. Babar and Rizwan added 112; Rizwan lbw to Maharaj for 48. Babar reached 112 off 188 (12×4) before edging Rabada. Agha (38) and Talat (32) scratched, but Maharaj (4-78) and Jansen (3-62) cleaned up.

South Africa 1st Innings – 367 all out (112.3 overs) De Zorzi (48) and Rickelton (68) added 112. Markram and Bavuma forged 156 — Markram’s 142 (212 balls, 18×4) aggressive, Bavuma 78 before lbw to Abrar. Bedingham (52) and Stubbs (48) added quick runs before Abrar (3-88) and Nawaz (2-72).

Pakistan 2nd Innings – 236 all out (82.3 overs) Fakhar (42) and Babar (38) added 68, but Maharaj trapped Babar lbw. Rizwan (48) and Agha (32) resisted, but Maharaj’s 6-82 — including a triple-wicket burst — triggered the collapse. Last man Zameer lbw to Maharaj. Target: 168.

South Africa 2nd Innings – 170-2 (38.2 overs) De Zorzi (28) and Rickelton (12) fell to Afridi, but Bavuma and Bedingham added 112 unbroken — Bavuma 78* off 102 (9×4), Bedingham 52 off 68 (7×4). Winning single off Abrar.

Key Moments

• Markram-Bavuma 156-run stand — highest 4th-wicket vs Pakistan at Newlands
• Maharaj’s 6-82 — first six-for at home since 2022
• Pakistan’s second-innings fight — highest total at Newlands vs SA since 2013
• Bavuma’s unbeaten chase — first SA captain to finish a home Test chase unbeaten since 2018

Player of the Match: Keshav Maharaj (10-160 match figures)

Aiden Markram: “Perfect summer end. Keshav’s spell on day five was magic; Bavuma’s leadership class.”

Babar Azam: “Outplayed in both Tests. Need to learn from SA’s seam and spin use.”

Final Series Result: South Africa 2–0 Pakistan

South Africa now turn to home ODIs vs West Indies (February); Pakistan head to Australia for T20Is.

Home fortress intact — SA march on.