Pakistan ease to ODI series triumph over South Africa

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put on a 115-run partnership as Pakistan cruised to an 81-run victory over South Africa in the second ODI, sealing a series triumph.

Having lost the teams' T20I series 2-0 last week, Pakistan responded with a narrow victory in the first 50-over game, which went down to the final three balls.

The tourists were far more convincing in Cape Town on Thursday, setting the Proteas an imposing target of 330 – one they never looked likely to reach.

Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique (0) to a Heinrich Klaasen catch from just the fifth ball, with South Africa debutant Kwena Maphaka then taking the first of his four wickets to dismiss Saim Ayub (25).

However, Babar and Rizwan steadied the ship with an excellent third-wicket stand, before the former slapped Andile Phehlukwayo straight to Aiden Markram at short midwicket for 73.

Maphaka then produced a splendid diving return catch to dismiss Rizwan for 80, but Kamran Ghulam turned up the tempo for Pakistan, smashing 63 off 32 balls.

That acceleration left South Africa with a mountain to climb, and when Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and Salman Agha had them 113-4, there was no way back.

Shaheen Shah Afridi scalped four wickets, while Shah had Klaasen caught just three runs shy of his fifth ODI century as South Africa fell well short.

Kamran Ghulam is the player of the match for his 63 off 32 balls in the second ODI against South Africa! #SAvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/m8U5MVvCRa

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 19, 2024

Data Debrief: Pakistan pull away

When Maphaka – who finished with figures of 4-72 on his debut – took an excellent return catch to dismiss Rizwan, Pakistan were 192-4 through 36 overs and seemingly in a spot of bother.

However, the arrival of Ghulam at the crease helped them accelerate, and a huge 128 runs off the last 12 overs ensured the target they set was far too daunting for the hosts.