Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, defeating South Africa by 81 runs in the second game at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, on Thursday night. Chasing a target of 330, South Africa were bowled out for 248 in 43.1 overs.

By PakPassion Staff (20-12-2024)

This victory marks Pakistan’s third consecutive ODI series win, following triumphs over Australia and Zimbabwe.

The win was driven by key half-centuries from captain Mohammad Rizwan (80 off 82 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes), Babar Azam (73 off 95 balls, 7 fours), and player of the match Kamran Ghulam (63 off 32 balls, 4 fours, 5 sixes). The pace attack of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah shared seven wickets for just 84 runs in 16.1 overs combined.

After South Africa elected to bowl, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam put together a solid 48-run partnership for the second wicket, following Abdullah Shafique’s duck in the opening over. Saim (25 off 31 balls, 5 fours) was dismissed by 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka, marking his first ODI wicket. Rizwan and Babar then formed a crucial 115-run third-wicket stand to stabilize the innings. Babar brought up his 33rd ODI half-century in the 25th over, while Rizwan, Pakistan’s top scorer, followed with his 14th half-century in the 30th over.

Kamran Ghulam’s explosive 63 off 32 balls, which included four boundaries and five sixes, provided the much-needed acceleration. He shared significant partnerships with Salman Ali Agha (33 off 30 balls, 3 fours, 1 six), Muhammad Irfan Khan (15 off 16 balls, 1 six), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (16 off 9 balls, 2 fours, 1 six). Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 329 with one ball to spare.

Maphaka (4-72) and Marco Jansen (3-71) were the standout bowlers for South Africa, taking seven wickets between them.

In reply, South Africa struggled to build partnerships, losing wickets regularly. None of the top four batters reached 35, leaving them at 113-4 in 21.2 overs, with Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha claiming three wickets between them. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller (29 off 39 balls, 1 four, 1 six) fought back with a 72-run fifth-wicket stand off 72 balls, slowing Pakistan’s charge toward victory.

Klaasen (97 off 74 balls, 8 fours, 4 sixes), who was the last batter dismissed, fell just three runs short of his fifth ODI century. He kept Pakistan under pressure throughout his innings but ultimately ran out of partners.

With South Africa requiring 149 runs in 17 overs, Shaheen returned for his second spell and broke the dangerous partnership in the 34th over by removing Miller caught behind after a successful review. Shaheen struck again in the 36th, 38th, and 43rd overs, dismissing Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, and Maphaka.

Shaheen was denied a five-wicket haul when Saim dropped Klaasen in the 43rd over, but Naseem Shah wrapped up South Africa’s innings in the next over, taking the final wicket and leaving them stranded on 248, with 41 balls to spare.