Pakistan’s dominant performance in the second ODI against South Africa at Newlands has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the series. With an impressive all-round display, spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s superb seam bowling and solid contributions from Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan sealed an 81-run victory. This win gave Pakistan a 2-0 series lead and brought them closer to securing the series with a game to spare. For cricket fans, the excitement doesn’t end here—stay updated with the latest coverage on the et20worldcup website, your go-to source for news and match schedules on major cricket events.
Pakistan's Strong Start: Setting the Tone for the Match
Batting First: A Challenging Total
Pakistan’s decision to bat first after South Africa chose to field initially seemed to favor the visitors, given the challenging conditions at Newlands. The pitch is known to become difficult to chase under lights, and Pakistan capitalized on these conditions to post a competitive total of 329 all out. Despite a few early wickets, solid contributions from Rizwan, Babar, and an aggressive cameo from Ghulam put Pakistan in a commanding position. Their efforts ensured a challenging target for South Africa, which was always going to be difficult to chase down.
Rizwan and Babar Azam: Key Partnerships
Mohammad Rizwan, with an elegant 80 runs from 82 balls, anchored the innings, while Babar Azam’s 73 off 95 balls provided stability. The two combined for a crucial 115-run third-wicket partnership that laid the foundation for Pakistan’s total. Rizwan’s measured approach and Babar’s classical timing allowed them to build pressure on South Africa’s bowlers. Both played calculated innings, rotating the strike and finding boundaries when needed.
Kamran Ghulam’s explosive knock of 63 from just 32 balls was a major highlight, as he came in at the end and blasted the South African bowlers all over the park. His aggressive hitting was the icing on the cake, ensuring Pakistan posted a total that would prove out of reach for South Africa.
South Africa’s Struggles with the Ball
While debutant Kwena Maphaka impressed with 4 wickets for 72 runs, South Africa's bowling lacked consistency. The bowlers were unable to maintain pressure for long periods, allowing Pakistan’s batsmen to recover from early setbacks. Moreover, South Africa’s fielding was subpar, with several dropped catches and misfields compounding their troubles. Pakistan's batsmen seized on these mistakes, maintaining their composure to finish strongly.
South Africa's Chase: Klaasen’s Lone Fight
A Promising Start Turns Sour
South Africa began their chase with determination. Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi made a solid start, and South Africa was ticking along at a good rate, keeping the asking run rate under control. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, applied pressure, and wickets began to fall regularly. With the fall of de Zorzi, van der Dussen, and Markram, South Africa’s hopes rested entirely on Heinrich Klaasen.
Klaasen's Heroic Effort
Heinrich Klaasen played a match-defining knock, scoring 97 runs from just 74 balls. His aggressive stroke play was a treat to watch, as he hit some powerful boundaries, especially against the spinners. Klaasen’s ability to accelerate the scoring kept South Africa’s hopes alive, but it was always going to be a daunting task without the support of his teammates.
Despite his valiant effort, Klaasen was unable to find a partner who could stay with him long enough to build a substantial partnership. His attempt to anchor the chase was constantly thwarted by the fall of wickets at the other end.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: The Match-Winning Bowler
Afridi’s Masterclass in Seam Bowling
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. With four wickets for 47 runs, Afridi controlled the match from the outset, making sure South Africa could not get away in their chase. His reverse swing and ability to extract movement off the pitch were key to his success. Afridi’s spell had a decisive impact on the game, as he broke the back of South Africa's middle order.
Afridi's ability to bowl with pace and precision during the death overs was one of the most impressive aspects of his performance. As the game moved into its final stages, Afridi found late swing, and his deliveries to David Miller and Marco Jansen were particularly lethal. His spell completely tilted the game in Pakistan’s favor.
Key Wickets: Miller and Jansen’s Downfall
Afridi’s first major breakthrough came when he removed South African captain Temba Bavuma. He continued to find the right length, and his precision in the middle overs made it difficult for South Africa to build partnerships. Afridi’s stunning delivery to Marco Jansen was particularly noteworthy—bowled from around the wicket, the ball moved in late and smashed into the stumps. His dismissal of Miller, as well as his handling of the tail, made Afridi the hero of the match.
Afridi’s Control and Reverse Swing
Afridi’s spell was a lesson in seam bowling. He was not just fast, but he also had the ability to extract reverse swing, making him unplayable in the final overs. His control over the ball was impressive, and his tactical awareness allowed him to target South Africa’s weak points with precision. His reverse swing and wrist position were key to breaking through the South African lineup.
South Africa’s Middle-Order Collapse
Pressure Mounts on Klaasen
After the fall of key wickets, Klaasen found himself stranded, with little support from the other end. He continued to fight valiantly but lacked the partners needed to build a match-winning partnership. The mounting pressure meant that Klaasen had to take risks, and eventually, his attempt to hit big off Naseem Shah ended with him being caught at deep midwicket. His dismissal ended South Africa’s hopes, and they were bowled out for 248.
Pakistan's All-Round Performance: A Complete Team Effort
Batting Depth and Partnerships
Pakistan’s batting depth was one of the standout features of the match. While Rizwan and Babar provided stability, it was Ghulam’s late surge that truly set Pakistan’s total apart. With a blend of experience and aggressive lower-order hitting, Pakistan managed to set a target that was always going to be difficult for South Africa to chase. This depth ensured that they had runs on the board even when a few wickets fell.
Shaheen Afridi: The Hero of the Match
Shaheen Afridi’s four-wicket haul was the turning point in the game. His ability to reverse the ball and bowl at pace was a major factor in Pakistan’s success. Afridi’s contribution with the ball ensured that South Africa had no answers, even when Klaasen was trying to take the game away from them. His performance was one of the finest displays of fast bowling seen in recent times.
Conclusion: Pakistan's Path to Series Victory
An Impressive 81-Run Win
Pakistan's 81-run win in the second ODI was a demonstration of their all-round strength. Rizwan, Babar, and Ghulam all contributed with the bat, while Afridi’s sensational bowling was the match-defining moment. South Africa fought hard, but Klaasen’s lone battle was not enough to overcome Pakistan’s team effort.
With a 2-0 series lead, Pakistan is now in commanding position to win the series in Johannesburg. This victory highlights Pakistan's strong form and their ability to perform across all departments. To stay updated on the latest cricket action, don’t forget to visit et20worldcup for comprehensive coverage of upcoming matches and events.
