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Pakistan beat South Africa at Newlands to win the series
Pakistan beat South Africa at Newlands to win the series
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam added 115 runs for the third-wicket partnership.
Shaheen Afridi took four wickets as South Africa was bowled out for 248 in the second ODI at Newlands, Cape Town. Pakistan won easily by 81 runs and sealed the series on Thursday. Heinrich Klaasen's impressive 97 wasn't enough to save South Africa, as Pakistan secured an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
South Africa started their chase well, with Temba Bavuma hitting a boundary off Shaheen's first ball. A few overs later, Tony de Zorzi hit a six off the pacer. However, their opening stand of 34 runs ended in the sixth over when Bavuma was caught in the deep by Haris Rauf.
Zorzi hit three stylish boundaries off Shaheen and Naseem but was bowled by Abrar Ahmed six overs later. The Pakistani spinners once again troubled the South African batters. Agha and Abrar slowed the scoring in the middle overs, building pressure. This led to Rassie van der Dussen’s dismissal, as his attempt to hit big off Agha ended in a catch at deep midwicket.
Klaasen hit a couple of boundaries off Agha, but South Africa struggled to gain momentum. After Naseem dropped a catch, Abrar trapped Markram in LBW. Klaasen and David Miller briefly steadied the innings with quick singles and occasional big shots. Just as they raised the scoring rate with three boundaries in six balls, Shaheen returned to remove Miller for 29.
With a long tail for support, Klaasen went on the attack, hitting two sixes in the next over. However, his teammates offered little help, as Jansen, Phehlukwayo, and Rabada fell cheaply to Shaheen and Naseem. Klaasen fought hard but couldn’t prevent the inevitable, as the victory slipped out of reach.
Earlier, Pakistan posted a strong total of 329, thanks to a century stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, followed by a quickfire 63 off 32 balls from Ghulam. After losing Abdullah Shafique for a second-ball duck, Pakistan rebuilt with a 48-run partnership between Saim Ayub and Babar. Saim fell late in the Powerplay, but Babar and Rizwan kept the scoreboard ticking.
Initially focusing on singles, Rizwan took risks and targeted the South African bowlers. He smashed Jansen and Fortuin for sixes on his way to a half-century and hit three boundaries off Maphaka in one over. Maphaka later dismissed Rizwan for 80 with a sharp return catch, while Babar was caught pulling Phehlukwayo.
Despite losing both set batters in quick succession, Pakistan maintained their momentum. Ghulam launched a late assault, smashing boundaries and sixes off Fortuin, Jansen, and Shamsi, with support from Agha Salman (33 off 30), Irfan Khan (15 off 16), and Shaheen Afridi (16 off 9).
South Africa had moments of brilliance in the field, including two run-outs, but also dropped three crucial catches. Although they picked up four wickets in six balls to bowl out Pakistan, the damage had already been done.
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