NEW DELHI: Pakistan defeated South Africa by 81 runs in the second one-day international at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday, thanks to the efforts of veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Babar (73) and captain Rizwan (80) put up 115 off 142 balls for the third wicket, clearing the way for Pakistan’s total of 329 all out.
South Africa was all out for 248 despite Heinrich Klaasen scoring 97.
The main destroyers were fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (4/47) and Naseem Shah (3/37).
Pakistan now has an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after the victory.
After wins in Australia and Zimbabwe, it was their third straight series victory and the third for the Champions Trophy hosts in the southern hemisphere season.
“It’s a team game, from beginning to end all of the guys are involved and contributing,” said Rizwan.
Before Babar was dismissed with the score on 192 in the 33rd over, he and Rizwan batted wisely and soundly, with their combined 204 one-day caps surpassing the total of the remainder of the side.
Rizwan followed as Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old one-day debutant, made a spectacular diving catch off his own bowling three overs later.
However, the batsmen who came after, particularly player of the match Kamran Ghulam, who struck five sixes to get 63 off 32 balls, had set the stage for some power hitting.
Pakistan lost the remaining six wickets but amassed 161 runs in the final 17 overs with a license to go for their strokes.
“Me and Babar started slowly. We were looking for 300 but we got 320-plus. I have never seen Kamran Ghulam play an innings like that,” said Rizwan.
Despite suffering severe injuries, left-arm fast bowler Maphaka managed to take four wickets at a cost of 72 runs.
For the most of their innings, South Africa scored more runs than Pakistan, although only Klaasen produced a noteworthy total despite all six of their opening batsmen starting.
Klaasen struck eight fours and four sixes from 74 balls in the opening match in Paarl on Tuesday, scoring 86 in a losing cause. Caught at the deep mid-wicket boundary, he was the final man out.
