For the second test in Cape Town both sides showed one change apiece from the first match, with the home side bringing in paceman Vernon Philander for Keshav Maharaj, whilst Mohammad Abbas replaced Hasan Ali for the visitors.
South Africa won the toss and deciding to bowl first, reaping almost immediate dividends when Dale Steyn had Fakhar Zaman caught in the 5th over for just a single.
Then his opening partner, Imam ul-Haq was lbw to Philander for 8, and when Duanne Olivier had Azhar Ali caught by Hashim Amla for just 2, Pakistan were reduced to 19 – 3. Asad Shafiq and Shan Masood added 32 for the fourth wicket, but then two wickets fell in 8 balls, Shafiq caught off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada for 20, and Babar Azam caught off Olivier for just 2.
Masood and his captain Sarfraz Ahmed added 62 for the sixth wicket, before Masood was caught behind off Rabada for 44. Sarfraz top-scored with 56, but he was also caught behind, Olivier this time the bowler, and the tail folded meekly, as Pakistan were bowled out on the stroke of tea for 177. Olivier with 4 for 48 was yet again the pick of the bowlers.
In reply, Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar provided a steady start for the hosts, putting on 56 for the opening wicket before Elgar was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Amir for 20.
However, Markram and Amla shared an unbeaten stand of 67 and were about to close out the day when Markram was bowled of the last ball of play by Masood for 78, having struck a six and 14 fours. At stumps, South Africa were 123 – 2, trailing by 54 runs on first innings with 8 first innings wickets in hand.
Pakistan were looking for an early break-through on Day Two, and they got it when Amla was bowled by Abbas for 24 in just the second over. Theunis de Bruyne then was caught by Babar off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi for 13, as the visitors looked to mount a fightback.
However, captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma steadied matters with a stand of 156 for the 5th wicket as the home side began to build a sizeable lead. Bavuma was eventually caught behind off Afridi, but not before he had scored 75, including 10 fours. Du Plessis, this time paired with Quinton de Kock, then went on to complete his century, his 9th in test cricket, before he was caught behind off Afridi for 103. De Kock and Philander then added a further 26 as South Africa closed the second day on 382 – 6, a lead of 205, with 4 first innings’ wickets still standing.
Resuming on the third morning South Africa added just 12 to their overnight score when de Kock was caught off the bowling of Amir for 59.
Then the same bowler picked up the wickets of Philander for 16 and Rabada for 11, before Steyn was last man out to Afridi for 13, as South Africa were bowled out for 431.
Masood and Shafiq led a recovery with a stand of 132 for the third wicket which looked to bring their side back into the match, until Masood was caught behind off the bowling of Steyn for 61.
Shafiq then fell in similar fashion for 88, with Philander this time the bowler, and, despite the best efforts of Babar, the Pakistan innings began to subside. Fakhar was caught and bowled by Rabada for 7, and the Sarfraz was lbw to Olivier as the resistance of the away side began to crumble. Steyn then picked up two more wickets, and when Babar was caught off the bowling of Rabada for 72, South Africa looked like they would win within 3 days.
The last pair though of Abbas and Afridi ensured that the match would go into the fourth day with a last wicket partnership of 24, which was ended when Afridi gave Rabada his fourth victim of the innings as Pakistan were bowled out for 294, leaving South Africa a victory target of just 41 to chase.
They duly completed their task on Sunday morning, despite losing de Bruyn, caught behind off the bowling of Abbas for 4. Amla was forced to retire after being struck by a ball on the arm, but Elgar and du Plessis guided their side to victory with no further alarms.
Faf du Plessis earned the man of the match award with his century.