After defeating South Africa by 81 runs at Newlands, Pakistan won the second consecutive one-day international series at home.
After defeating Australia 2-1 last month, Pakistan beat the Proteas 2-0.
Half-centuries by Babar Azam, captain Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Kamran Ghulam bowled out Pakistan for 329 runs. Despite Henrik Klaassen’s 97, Pakistan choked off South Africa’s target and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi ended the last meaningful resistance with three wickets in three overs. Klaasen was the last out for 248 runs in the 44th over.
Pakistan’s fifth successive bilateral ODI series win puts them in a good position for the Champions Trophy to be held in February. It was unchanged from Tuesday’s three-wicket win in Paarl, batting first and minus both openers in the first 10 overs. Rizwan was smashed on the back of the helmet by debutant fast bowler Kwena Mafaka but gathered his wits in a steady but secure stand of 115 with Babar.
The partnership was broken when Babar was caught at midwicket for 73 off 95 balls, his first fifty for Pakistan in any format since May and first in ODIs in 13 months. After three overs, Rizwan scored 80 off 82 balls as Mafaka picked up the pace, caught and bowled, forcing Pakistan to reset to 192-4 with 14 overs remaining.
Ghulam inflicted more pain on the hosts with a 25-ball fifty off his fifth six as South Africa dropped four catches. After Pakistan scored 105 runs in the last 10 overs, Ghulam was the last batsman to be dismissed with 63 runs off 32 balls.
“Kamran Ghulam’s innings was brilliant,” said Rizwan. ‘We were looking for 300 but we got 300 plus, credit must be given to him. I trusted him but not like that…that was different. Setting a target of 330 runs for victory, openers Temba Bavuma and Tony de Jorji gave South Africa a promising start in the first 12 overs.
But spinner Abrar Ahmed and part-timer Salman Agha picked up three top-order wickets and slowed down the scoring so that the required run-rate gradually increased.
Klaasen and a fit-again David Miller began a charge reviving Chase when Miller was caught for 29 off Shaheen, ending a 72-run partnership with Klaasen in 12 overs. Klaassen was dismissed three runs short of his fifth ODI century, with Shaheen taking 4-47 and fellow fast bowler Naseem Shah 3-37.
The final ODI will be played in Johannesburg on Sunday.
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