- Mohammad Rizwan leads Pakistan to third consecutive ODI series win; Pakistan register their third ODI series win in South Africa after wins in 2013 and 2021
- Rizwan, Babar, Kamran strike crucial half-centuries; Naseem, Shaheen share seven wickets among them
Cape Town, 19 December 2024: Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series as they beat South Africa by 81 runs in the second game here at the Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town on Thursday night. Chasing 330 to win, South Africa were bundled out for 248 in 43.1 overs.
This is Pakistan’s third successive ODI series win after getting the better of Australia and Zimbabwe earlier.
The landmark win was spearheaded by crucial half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan (80, 82b, 7x4s, 3x6s), Babar Azam (73, 95b, 7x4s) and player of the match Kamran Ghulam (63, 32b, 4x4s, 5x6s) while the pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah shared seven wickets among them for 84 runs in 16.1 overs combined.
After South Africa opted to bowl, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam came together for a fluent 48-run second-wicket stand as Abdullah Shafique fell for a two-ball duck in the opening over.
After Saim’s (25, 31b, 5x4s) departure, who became 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka’s first ODI scalp, skipper Rizwan and Babar Azam dug deep to stitch a 115-run valuable third-wicket stand to stabilise the innings. Babar brought up his 33rd ODI half-century in the 25th over while Rizwan, the top-scorer for Pakistan, followed suit in the 30th over to register his 14th half-century.
Kamran, whose 32-ball 63-run knock laced with four boundaries and five towering sixes, provided the much-needed impetus to Pakistan’s innings and he also shared 50, 49 and 26-run stands with Salman Ali Agha (33, 30b, 3x4s, 1x6), Muhammad Irfan Khan (15, 16b, 1x6) and Shaheen (16, 9b, 2x4s, 1x6), respectively. Pakistan were bowled out for 329 with one ball to spare.
Maphaka (4-72) and Marco Jansen (3-71) shared seven wickets among them.
In turn, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals with none of the top four batters crossing 35 as they slipped to 113-4 in 21.2 overs with Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha sharing three wickets. No. 5 batter, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller (29, 39b, 1x4, 1x6) stalled Pakistan’s rapid advance towards the victory with a run-a-ball 72-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Klaasen (97, 74b, 8x4s, 4x6s), who was the last to fall, fell three runs short of his fifth ODI century and kept Pakistan on their toes throughout his stay on the crease but eventually ran out of partners.
South Africa required 149 in 17 overs when Shaheen returned for his second spell and broke the dangerous stand in 34th over by removing Miller caught behind courtesy a successful review. He returned in overs 36, 38 and 43 to further dent South Africa by dismissing Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo and Maphaka.
After Shaheen was denied a five-for by Saim, who dropped Klaasen in the 43rd over, Naseem wrapped up the South African innings on the first ball of next over for 248 with 41 balls to spare.
Scores in brief
2nd ODI – Pakistan beat South Africa by 81 runs at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Pakistan 329 all out, 50 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 80, Babar Azam 73, Kamran Ghulam 63, Salman Ali Agha 33, Saim Ayub 25; Kwena Maphaka 4-72, Marco Jansen 3-71)
South Africa 248 all out, 43.1 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 97, Tony de Zorzi 34, David Miller 29, Rassie van der Dussen 23; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-47, Naseem Shah 3-37, Abrar Ahmed 2-48)
Player of the match – Kamran Ghulam (Pakistan)
Schedule of matches:
22 Dec – 3rd ODI vs South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (5pm PKT)
26 Dec – 1st Test vs South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion (1pm PKT)
3 Jan – 2nd Test vs South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (1pm PKT)
