Pakistan showcased their finest ODI performance in weeks, overpowering South Africa by 82 runs in Cape Town to clinch their third consecutive series win. The team’s clinical display across batting, bowling, and fielding left little room for the hosts to recover.
Batting first, Pakistan posted an imposing 329, thanks to half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and a fiery late cameo by Kamran Ghulam. Rizwan and Babar anchored the innings with a 115-run partnership, combining classical stroke play with calculated aggression. Ghulam’s blistering 63 off just 32 deliveries, featuring five towering sixes, added a late flourish, as Pakistan punished South Africa’s wayward lines and fielding in the death overs.
South Africa’s chase started on a positive note, with Temba Bavuma confidently flicking Shaheen Afridi for a boundary on the very first ball. The hosts maintained a brisk pace during the powerplay, led by Tony de Zorzi and Rassie van der Dussen, but Pakistan’s knack for taking wickets in clusters soon shifted the momentum. De Zorzi, van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram departed in quick succession, leaving Heinrich Klaasen to lead a lone fight.
Klaasen’s spirited 97 off 74 balls kept South Africa’s hopes alive as he forged a crucial partnership with David Miller. The duo added 72 runs at a run-a-ball pace, blending stability with aggression. However, Afridi, rediscovering his deadly form, dismantled the South African middle and lower order. His reverse swing under the lights proved unplayable, as he dismissed Miller, Marco Jansen, and Andile Phehlukwayo with precision, finishing with figures of 4 for 47. Naseem Shah also chipped in with three vital wickets, wrapping up the hosts for 247.
Earlier, South Africa had opted to field, and debutant Kwena Maphaka made an immediate impact, removing Abdullah Shafique for a duck. Despite a promising start, their bowlers struggled to sustain pressure as Babar and Rizwan paced the innings masterfully. Babar, who scored his first half-century in 22 innings, appeared set for a big score before falling to Andile Phehlukwayo. Rizwan followed soon after, undone by a brilliant return catch from Maphaka.
The final 12 overs belonged to Pakistan, as Ghulam unleashed a ferocious assault, supported by Salman Ali Agha. Their late fireworks propelled Pakistan to a challenging total, a target that South Africa, despite Klaasen’s heroics, never seriously threatened.
Pakistan’s ability to manage their innings while preserving wickets proved decisive. South Africa, in contrast, struggled to replicate that balance, with Klaasen left fighting a solitary battle. As the match ended, his dejection was evident—he simply lacked the support to take his team over the line.