CAPE TOWN – Pakistan thrashed South Africa by 81 runs in the second ODI in Cape Town on Thursday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a challenging 330-run target to level the series, South Africa were all out at 248 in 43.1 overs.
Heinrich Klaasen was the top scorer for the hosts with 97 runs, followed by Tony de Zorzi, who made 34. David Miller contributed 29 runs, Rassie van der Dussen 23, Aiden Markram 21, and Temba Bavuma 12.
Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged four wickets, Naseem Shah three and Abrar Ahmed two while Salman Agha took one wicket. Kamran Ghulam was named player of the match.
After being asked to bat by South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique (0) in the first over with just five runs on the board. Saim Ayub (25) and Babar Azam (73) stitched a 48-run partnership to put Pakistan back on track.
After the dismissal of Saim Ayub, Babar Azam and skipper Mohammad Rizwan (80) put on 115 runs together to set a perfect launching pad for the team. Kamran Ghulam (63), Salman Agha (33), Irfan Khan (15), Shaheen Shah Afridi (16) and Haris Rauf (6) put on a strong finish to take the team score to 329 in the allocated 50 overs.
Kwena Maphaka bagged four wickets on debut, Marco Jansen took three, Bjorn Fortuin and Andile Phehlukwayo took one each, while Abrar Ahmed was run out.
Pakistan fielded an unchanged side that beat the hosts in the ODI series opener in Paarl. South Africa made four changes in the playing eleven.
Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
South Africa Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Tabraiz Shamsi
