Rizwan, Shaheen star as Pakistan beat South Africa by 81 runs to win ODI series

New Delhi: Pakistan defeated South Africa by 81 runs in the second ODI at the Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, December 20. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah produced match-winning spells while Babar Azam and captain Rizwan also batted brilliantly to help Pakistan win the ODI series.

South Africa made a good start in the run chase as Temba Bavuma smashed a boundary on the first ball. The 34-run partnership between Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi ended in the sixth over when Haris Raug removed the South African captain on 12 runs. Tony de Zorzi smashed a couple of boundaries against Afridi and Naseem but was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed on 34 runs in the 12th over.

Pakistani spinners Salman Agha and Abrar put South African batters under pressure as they struggled to score runs through the middle overs. Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and David Miller got a good start but failed to convert it into a big score.

Klaasen went into attacking mode after the middle order failure and scored 97 runs off 74 balls but the wickets kept falling from the other end as Jansen, Phehlukwayo and Kagiso Rabada departed cheaply against Shaheen and Naseem.

Rizwan, Babar and Ghulam put on a show with the bat

Earlier in the day, a 113-run partnership between Babar and Rizwan, followed by a fiery knock from Ghulam helped Pakistan to post 329 runs in 49.5 overs. Jansen removed Shafique in the opening over but Ayub and Babar stabilised Pakistan’s innings and stitched a 48-run partnership.

Kwena Maphaka dismissed Ayub on 25 runs in the 10th over. But Babar and Rizwan ensured that the hosts kept the momentum with them. Initially, both batters were busy running singles but once they settled, they took on South African bowlers. Phehlukwayo removed Babar on 73 runs while Maphaka dismissed Rizwan on 80 runs in quick succession.

But Kamran Ghulam didn’t let the momentum slip away and scored 63 runs off 32 balls with the help of five maximums and four boundaries. Agha Salman, Irfan Khan and Shaheen Afridi also chipped in with cameos in the death overs. The last ODI of the three-match series will be played at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on December 22.