In a dominant performance at Newlands on Thursday, Pakistan defeated South Africa by 81 runs in the second ODI of the three-match series, taking a commanding 2-0 lead. The victory was built on strong batting performances from Mohammad Rizwan (80), Babar Azam (73), and Kamran Ghulam (63), while a clinical bowling display from Shaheen Afridi (4/47) and Naseem Shah (3/37) sealed the win.
Pakistan posted a challenging total of 329, and South Africa’s chase was never really in control. Despite a valiant effort from Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 97, the Proteas were bowled out for 247, with Afridi and Shah proving too much for their batting lineup. This victory marked Pakistan’s fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series win, continuing their momentum ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy.
The triumph also added to Pakistan’s historical success in South Africa, as they became the first Asian side to win three ODI series in the country, having previously triumphed in 2021 and 2013. This latest victory further solidifies their reputation as one of the top contenders for the 2023 Champions Trophy, where they aim to defend their title, having won the tournament in 2017.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s collective effort and singled out Kamran Ghulam for his Player of the Match performance, which included powerful late hitting. He credited Ghulam for shifting the momentum in Pakistan’s favor, and expressed his belief that the young batter is a bright prospect for the future of Pakistani cricket.
South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, expressed disappointment with his team’s inability to capitalize on a strong start, as they failed to maintain the pressure after the first 25 overs. Despite Klaasen’s strong knock, South Africa fell short in the chase. The series now heads to Johannesburg for the final match on Sunday, where Pakistan will aim for a clean sweep.
