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CAPE TOWN. — A look at South Africa’s recent Test cricket record at Newlands spells trouble for Pakistan ahead of the second Test between the sides, starting today.

1-0 down in the three-match series following the Boxing Day Test at Centurion, Pakistan need a win Cape Town to keep their hopes alive.

A look at the Proteas’ record at Newlands, though, suggests a long few days for coach Mickey Arthur’s men.

South Africa have lost just ONE of their last 17 Test matches at Newlands.

That result came against Australia in 2014 when David Warner and skipper Michael Clarke made first-innings centuries to bat the Proteas out of the game and set up a commanding 245-run win.

You have to go back all the way to 2007 – 18 Test matches ago – to find the last time before that the Proteas lost at Newlands. Unsurprisingly, that result also came against the Aussies.

Since readmission, the Proteas have played a total of 32 Test matches at Newlands. They have won 22 of those (68.75%), have drawn 6 and have lost only 4 times at the venue.

All four of those losses came against Australia. Pakistan, meanwhile, have played Test cricket at Newlands on just 3 occasions. They lost all of those matches.

South Africa’s six-wicket win in the first test at Centurion was set up by the bowling of Duanne Olivier, who had match figures of 11 for 96.

Pakistan will be looking for experienced batsmen like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq to bat with more responsibility than they showed in Centurion.

South Africa will be hoping for a return to form for Du Plessis and opening batsman Aiden Markram.

Teams

South Africa (likely from): Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier.

Pakistan (likely from): Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wkt), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Joel Wilson (WIN)

TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS). — Sport24