SA VS PAK 2ND ODI

So it is 2-0 then, for a confident Pakistan against a fairly inexperienced South African side, at least in their bowling, choosing to rest key players ahead of the Test series. Pakistan would be happy with this momentum and aim for a whitewash come Sunday, 22nd December, 2024, when they play the 'Pink ODI' - the final one-dayer of this series, in Johannesburg. The first ball in that game is scheduled to be bowled at 12 pm GMT but our build up will begin way earlier. So do tune in early. Till then, you can catch all the action from the Zimbabwe-Afghanistan series and the West Indies-Bangladesh series. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

MOHAMMAD RIZWAN, the victorious captain of Pakistan, says that it is a team game and everyone chipped in at different stages. Adds that Saim Ayub gave them a good start and then he (Rizwan) and Babar Azam took the match deep, which was the plan. Mentions that Kamran Ghulam played an incredible knock and he always trusted him to come up with the goods, having played with him at Peshawar in domestic cricket. Ends by saying that Pakistan's bowlers were fantastic as well with Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed, all chipping in with wickets.

TEMBA BAVUMA, skipper of South Africa, says that for the first 25 overs with the ball, they had the game under control but in the next 25, they let it slip, conceding more than 200 runs in the latter half, erasing all the good work that they had done earlier. Is firm on his decision to bowl first and says that there was plenty on offer for the bowlers early on. Admits that batting has been letting them down with batters not reaching the three-figure mark. Adds that while it is a positive that batters are getting in, they would want to start converting those starts into hundreds.

Pakistan's KAMRAN GHULAM HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his blitzkrieg knock of 63 (32). He says that he is happy with his performance and with the series victory as well. Says that the team has been working hard in the last couple of years and the results are showing now.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the day, Pakistan concentrated on keeping wickets in hand and creating a foundation for the end. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan created that platform while Salman Agha and Kamran Ghulam smashed past the 300-mark to get 329 on the board. South Africa did not bowl well towards the end but what would have hurt them badly is that they dropped as many 5 catches in the innings, with 3 coming in the last 6 overs. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

This was a pitch tailor-made for Pakistan from the 90s. Choke the opposition with spin and then kill them with reverse swing. South Africa were trying to claw their way back through the Klassen-Miller stand but Rizwan turned to Shaheen Afridi in the 34th over and he did not disappoint. He struck in the 34th, 36th and 38th overs, removing Miller, Jansen and Phehlukwayo, literally killing the game. He finished with 4 wickets while Naseem Shah took 3. But the real pressure was maintained by Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed in the middle overs and not to forget, Salman Agha, though he went for a few towards the end.

A series of starts was the story of this run chase. 5 out of the top 6 got starts, but could not convert them into anything substantial. Perhaps it was the required rate, or perhaps it was the effect of T20 cricket. But unlike Pakistan, the Protea batters were not keen on building a strong base. That led to four wickets falling a bit too quickly and the drama unfolded.

Chasing 330 for victory, the hosts got off to a decent start, reaching 74/1. It was then that spin was introduced and that proved to be their achilles heel. Abrar Ahmed got one to get past Tony de Zorzi and the Proteas got into a shell. After scoring 67/1 in Powerplay 1, they managed just 39/2 in the next 10 overs, visibly cautious. As the visitors sensed a comeback, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen got together to build a partnership. But because it was a matter of just one wicket, the tourists were confident. The Proteas were 185/4 when Miller was dismissed - and that began their slide. Eventually, it was too much for Klaasen to do, though he tried his best with a valiant 97.

There was a time when T20 used to be called as Pakistan's format. But in this year, it has been ODIs which have been Pakistan's strength. Their batters have enjoyed playing traditional cricket, laying down platforms and bashing towards the end, while the bowlers have rediscovered the art of reverse swing. And when the latter happens, there are very few teams better than Pakistan.

Consistency and Pakistan? Anode and cathode. But not in 2024. Beat Australia 2-1 in Australia. Beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in Zimbabwe. And now, have defeated South Africa in this ODI series. Third consecutive ODI series win and that too, on the road. Have Pakistan turned a corner?

OUT! CAUGHT! Taken this time. Klaasen cannot get his hundred. A length ball, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen picks it up and looks to pull it out of the ground but cannot quite find the distance again. Maybe, it is the wind on that side. Irfan Khan comes running sideways to his right and takes a good catch. Klaasen is stopped at 97 and PAKISTAN WIN BY 81 RUNS, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in this 3-match ODI series!

OUT! CAUGHT! Taken this time. Klaasen cannot get his hundred. A length ball, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen picks it up and looks to pull it out of the ground but cannot quite find the distance again. Maybe, it is the wind on that side. Irfan Khan comes running sideways to his right and takes a good catch. Klaasen is stopped at 97 and PAKISTAN WIN BY 81 RUNS, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in this 3-match ODI series!

Tabraiz Shamsi survives! Fuller and around off, Tabraiz Shamsi steers it towards third slip. South Africa needs 82 runs in 42 balls now!

Back of a length and on off, Heinrich Klaasen looks jab it away but gets an inside edge towards short fine for a run.

Play and a miss! Shaheen Afridi lands this on a hard length and around middle, Heinrich Klaasen moves a long way across to scoop it away but misses.

DROPPED! Is Heinrich Klaasen destined to get a century tonight? Saim Ayub puts down an absolute sitter. A length ball, outside off, Klaasen swings for the heavens and hits this miles in the air. But he is unable to find the distance and Ayub at deep mid-wicket gets to the ball. Takes the catch, but fumbles. Tries to take it on the second attempt, but puts it down. He is downcast but then suddenly someone screams to throw the ball as the batters look for the second. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Had he hit, this game would have been over!