South Africa entered the second Test looking to seal a 2-0 series whitewash after a two-wicket win in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion helped them take the lead – and seal a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat first. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton put on 61 for the first wicket, but South Africa were soon in trouble after Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs fell in quick succession to leave them 72-3. Thereafter, though, it was one-way traffic as Rickelton and Temba Bavuma put on 235 for the third wicket.

Read more: Ryan Rickelton achieves WTC first for South Africa with double century

Both players reached their centuries, with Bavuma dismissed on 106. By the end of day one, Rickelton had made his way to 176. On day two, he completed his double century swiftly, and was involved in another century stand, this time with Kyle Verrynne (100). By the time he was dismissed, Rickelton had made 259, and taken South Africa to 557 in just under five sessions.

Highest Test scores by South African openers

Rickelton recorded the 15th instance of a South African opening batter scoring a double hundred in a men's Test. The first to do so was Eric Rowan, against England in July 1951.

His final score of 259 is the joint-third best by a South African opener, after Graeme Smith's 277 and Gary Kirsten's 275. Interestingly, all three of the scores equal to or better than Rickelton's came against England – Smith scored 277 & 259 away from home in the space of a week in 2003, while Kirsten did so at home in 1999.

Former Proteas skipper Smith has the most double hundreds by a South African opener, with five in all.