Pakistan Script Massive Record, Become 1st Team of 21st Century to…

Pakistan veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan laid the foundation for a convincing series-clinching 81-run win over South Africa in the second one-day international at Newlands on Thursday. Pakistan’s total of 329 all out was set up by Babar (73) and captain Rizwan (80), who put on 115 off 142 balls for the third wicket. Heinrich Klaasen made 97 for South Africa but the hosts were bowled out for 248. Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (four for 47) and Naseem Shah (three for 37) were the main destroyers.

The win gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan’s win on Thursday made them the first team in the 21st century to win three ODI bilateral matches in South Africa.

It was their fifth series win in a row – and the Champions Trophy hosts’ third of the season in the southern hemisphere, following victories in Australia and Zimbabwe.

“It’s a team game, from start to finish all the guys are involved and contributing,” Rizwan said.

Babar and Rizwan, whose combined 204 ODIs surpassed the rest of the team’s total, batted solidly and sensibly before Babar was out for a total of 192 in the 33rd over.

Rizwan followed three overs later to a sensational diving catch off his own bowling by 18-year-old one-day debutant Kwena Maphaka.

But the stage was set for some power hitting from the batsmen that followed, especially man of the match Kamran Ghulam who hit five sixes in making 63 off 32 balls.

With a license to go after their shots, Pakistan scored 161 runs in the last 17 overs while losing their remaining six wickets.

“Me and Babar started slowly. We were looking for 300 but we got 320 plus. I have never seen Kamran Ghulam play such an innings,” said Rizwan.

Left-arm fast bowler Maphaka took heavy punishment but took four wickets while conceding 72 runs.

South Africa scored faster than Pakistan for most of their innings, but although all their first six batsmen started, only Klaasen made a significant run.

Klaasen, who made 86 in a losing effort in the first match at Paarl on Tuesday, hit eight fours and four sixes off 74 balls. He was the last man out, caught on the deep midwicket boundary.

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