Pakistan delivered a dominant performance to defeat South Africa by 81 runs at Newlands on Thursday. This victory secured the One-Day International series with a game to spare, giving Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead. The final match will take place in Johannesburg on Sunday.
South Africa surprisingly opted to field first, despite Newlands being a challenging venue for chasing under lights. Pakistan took full advantage of this decision, setting a competitive total of 329 all out. Captain Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a composed 80 off 82 balls. Babar Azam provided stability with 73 from 95 deliveries, while Kamran Ghulam injected late momentum, smashing 63 off just 32 balls.
Pakistan’s batters also capitalized on South Africa’s poor fielding. The hosts dropped multiple catches and struggled with their accuracy, allowing the visitors to keep the scoreboard ticking. Among South Africa’s bowlers, debutant Kwena Maphaka impressed with figures of 4-72 in 10 overs. At only 18 years old, he stood out in an otherwise disappointing bowling display.
In their chase, South Africa faltered despite several batters getting decent starts. Heinrich Klaasen fought valiantly, scoring an excellent 97 off 74 balls. However, he ran out of partners as Pakistan’s bowlers struck regularly, dismissing South Africa for 248 in 43.1 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball, producing a brilliant spell of seam bowling. He claimed 4-47, including the crucial wicket of David Miller for 29. Afridi’s control and precision dismantled South Africa’s middle order, ensuring the hosts never gained momentum.
Throughout the match, Pakistan outclassed South Africa in all departments. Their bowlers kept constant pressure, while their batters exploited every opportunity. Fielding errors from South Africa further tilted the game in Pakistan’s favor.
With this commanding win, Pakistan showcased their dominance and confidence ahead of the final match. South Africa must deliver a vastly improved performance to avoid a series whitewash.
