Kwena Maphaka, 18, makes Babar Azam her bunny, makes Test cricket history

Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old from the South African national cricket team, is living his dream in the ongoing second test against the Pakistan national cricket team. The final game of the two-match series between the teams takes place at Newlands in Cape Town.

Kwena Maphaka, who is making his debut for the South African national cricket team, has bowled very well in the ongoing game. The young pacer has bowled some hard lines and lengths and troubled the batsmen of the Pakistan national cricket team with his bowling in the match.

Kwena Maphaka has been consistently bowling at 140km/h in the second Test against Pakistan

Maphaka, with the way he bowls, it’s fair to say it was only a matter of time before he got his first Test wicket. The young fast bowler could not have asked for a better start to his career as he removed Pakistan national cricket team’s opening batsman Babar Azam to pick up his first wicket in the format.

Maphaka, who has been consistently bowling at 140km/h, bowled a length ball from outside leg stump which also stayed a bit low. Babar Azam looked to look but only managed to cut it behind. Keeper Verreynne came down to scoop it up to hand the young player his first wicket.

Although, it wasn’t a wicket-taking ball, Kwena Maphaka was left in pieces as she took off in celebration with a beaming smile on her face. He was applauded by almost every player in the South African national cricket team and the crowd also rose to applaud him for taking the wicket.

Watch: Kwena Maphaka eliminates Babar Azam to take her maiden Test wicket

Here is the video:

Encouraging to see 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka taking his first Test wicket on debut. His first Test scalp was dangerous Pakistani batsman Babar Azam. pic.twitter.com/kAwpIl6e1k

— Ratombo 🇿🇦 (@stoneman_o) January 5, 2025

With the wicket of Babar Azam, Kwena Maphaka became the youngest player in the South African national cricket team to ever play a Test. The young pacer has now also dismissed the batsman for the Pakistan national cricket team in all three formats of the game in his young career.

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At 18, Kwena Maphaka has now dismissed Babar Azam in all formats#SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/s5CkE8rDRh

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 5, 2025

Babar Azam returned to the hut after playing an innings of 58 runs off 127 balls.

Babar Azam looked decent with the bat in the ongoing Test. The right-hander was poised for a big haul, but it resulted in an unfortunate dismissal. The former Pakistan national cricket team skipper hit his second half-century of the series and announced his arrival to form in style.

Babar Azam returned to the hut after playing an innings of 58 runs off 127 balls with the help of 7 boundaries. With Saim Ayub ruled out, the batsman was asked to open the innings for the team, and he did a fantastic job for his side, but the right-hander hardly got any support from the other end.

Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan looked the only settled batsman apart from Babar Azam. He made 46 runs but could not continue. Pakistan’s national cricket team were left reeling at 155/6 and with the way they are batting, there is a good chance they can follow.

Read also: ‘I would have given another chance to…’: Sunil Gavaskar questions Rohit Sharma’s Test future in brutal attack