Pakistan (329) defeat South Africa (248) by 81 runs to clinch the 3-match ODI series by an unassailable lead of 2-0

[Cricket Warrior]

In recent months, South Africa faced an ODI series defeat against Afghanistan in Sharjah and suffered a loss to Ireland in Abu Dhabi. Adding to their challenges, the Proteas have now gone 0-1 down in the series against Pakistan after losing the first ODI. With the 2025 Champions Trophy on the horizon, South Africa will be eager to regain winning momentum ahead of the multi-nation tournament.

Pakistan, on the other hand, claimed a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa in Paarl. Under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy, the ‘Men in Green’ made history last month by defeating Australia 2-1, marking their first-ever ODI series win ‘Down Under’ in over two decades. They also secured a 2-1 series win in Zimbabwe and will look to maintain their winning streak in the rest of the series.

As the second ODI approaches, let’s take a closer look at how the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is expected to play for the South Africa vs Pakistan clash.

Squads

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

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[Justcrazy]

Pakistan top order need to bat better , then they can win this game. Rizwan needs to bat with more rotation. Try and get at least run a ball.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Bring Usman in for Abdullah. Haris is also not doing good but we have no one to replace him apart from hasnain. Let's just keep haris.

 

[alishahid]

Same line up. No change

 

[mominsaigol]

Bring Usman in for Abdullah. Haris is also not doing good but we have no one to replace him apart from hasnain. Let's just keep haris.

Usman is going to be a sitting duck against jansen and bartman and rabada early on?

Don't get me wrong so is Abdullah?

Why is pcb so stupid? Just have Kamran Ghulam open for this series since kamran doesn't struggle as much with inswing and is a solid player of pace.

He struggles with bounce and chest height deliveries though, but that's the story of most pakistani cricketers.

 

[BouncerGuy]

s a solid player of pace.

He is not solid. He struggles as well. but he is not gonna open and we know it. Abdullah is stuck in our joints now.

 

[adi_62941]

clock is ticking for Babar and Rizwan runs in ODIs. I think we have already seen the best of Babar. He is clearly struggling. A cover drive and straight drive here and there and then getting out cheaply is just constant in every match. He has lost his confidence and temperament completely.

Its just a karma as he made so many good deserving players sit out and played his friends. This guy just does not like to change at any cost. Too stubborn and stupid.

Aqib should rescue him. Either play him as opener replacing abdullah or down the order. Want to see more of kamran ghulam

 

[Abid Z]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Salman Agha batted a little higher.

 

[gazza619]

clock is ticking for Babar and Rizwan runs in ODIs. I think we have already seen the best of Babar. He is clearly struggling. A cover drive and straight drive here and there and then getting out cheaply is just constant in every match. He has lost his confidence and temperament completely.

Its just a karma as he made so many good deserving players sit out and played his friends. This guy just does not like to change at any cost. Too stubborn and stupid.

Aqib should rescue him. Either play him as opener replacing abdullah or down the order. Want to see more of kamran ghulam

Karma is just a fantasy word created to give piece of mind to the weak. Most bad people live long, have all the fun that there is to have and die happy leaving fortunes for their future generations.

Never mind back on topic, Babar is mentally unsettled since the sequence of events in the last 6 months. I have no doubt in my mind that he will return to his runs scoring habits if he works harder on his game.

 

[Omer2002]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Salman Agha batted a little higher.

Salman is not the answer ..neither is gulam dnt see any potential despite his innings the other day.

 

[Abid Z]

Salman is not the answer ..neither is gulam dnt see any potential despite his innings the other day.

Not the answer to what? You might not see any potential from your armchair but thankfully those in charge do. Hence his inclusion in the 11

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Hasnain in for Rauf should be the only change.

ABD should keep his place as the two reserve batters are technically deficient for this format.

Stupid decision from the board / management not to include Jahandad in the squad.

He could of come in for Haris and played the jansen role.

 

[adi_62941]

Karma is just a fantasy word created to give piece of mind to the weak. Most bad people live long, have all the fun that there is to have and die happy leaving fortunes for their future generations.

Never mind back on topic, Babar is mentally unsettled since the sequence of events in the last 6 months. I have no doubt in my mind that he will return to his runs scoring habits if he works harder on his game.

Agreed on the first point.

I think in Pakistan, hard work primarily means a lot of net practice and weightlifting of seniors and decision makers, unfortunately.

He has wasted crucial years when he should have been improving his game and performing. You couldn’t give him a better opportunity than the entire WC23 tournament, played on batting-friendly wickets in India, yet he failed miserably there.

No return of form brother. He will continue to struggle like that for rest of his career. A very promising batter going very average way

 

[followed]

Zimbu has to come good today.
Odis is his best format.

He has to show performance in this format otherwise he should be kicked out from all the formats.

 

[Kianig89]

Go on clinch the series make Klaseen suffer

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan named unchanged playing XI

 

[BouncerGuy]

As expected....

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Bat first wicket yet again. At least based on history.

Scores are generally higher here than Boland Park.

 

[jamie smith]

330 is par here

 

[Rana]

Go on Saim my boy

Sirf tere liye bethe hain hum!

 

[jamie smith]

with this batting lineup pak cant score even 250

 

[jamie smith]

he is not gonna fire everyday. at this time it is either saim or nothing for pak

Go on Saim my boy

Sirf tere liye bethe hain hum!

 

[jamie smith]

Bat first wicket yet again. At least based on history.

Scores are generally higher here than Boland Park.

if pak bats 1st they will hardly score 250

 

[Rana]

he is not gonna fire everyday. at this time it is either saim or nothing for pak

Doesn’t matter

After a long time, there is a player from Pakistan who makes me want to watch them play.

Before it used to be Shoaib Akhtar, Afridi, Razzaq, Yousuf, Inzimam….Umar Akmal to some extent…then Sharjeel Khan, and then Fakhar Zaman.

Will continue to support this kid only.

 

[jamie smith]

Doesn’t matter

After a long time, there is a player from Pakistan who makes me want to watch them play.

Before it used to be Shoaib Akhtar, Afridi, Razzaq, Yousuf, Inzimam….Umar Akmal to some extent…then Sharjeel Khan, and then Fakhar Zaman.

Will continue to support this kid only.

he should play sensibly at the start ,then try to catch up

 

[jamie smith]

caan riz score more than 2 runs today.he clearly doesnt have the momentum

 

[Rana]

he should play sensibly at the start ,then try to catch up

When Fakhar scored 193, he was also 50 off 70 but he was struggling to get the timing. Once in, Fakhar was unstoppable in a short space of time, he added 140 runs off 70-80 balls then.

So yeah, a player like Saim can afford to take his time as long as that’s the kind of acceleration he wants to achieve later.

I wouldn’t afford this luxury to Imam.

 

[jamie smith]

imams dead career is being revived by abd

When Fakhar scored 193, he was also 50 off 70 but he was struggling to get the timing. Once in, Fakhar was unstoppable in a short space of time, he added 140 runs off 70-80 balls then.

So yeah, a player like Saim can afford to take his time as long as that’s the kind of acceleration he wants to achieve later.

I wouldn’t afford this luxury to Imam.

 

[BouncerGuy]

imams dead career is being revived by abd

Yep. Right... Abdullah knows he is in deep waters now and coming out is not gonna be easy

 

[Rana]

caan riz score more than 2 runs today.he clearly doesnt have the momentum

As long as it’s Phelu bowling to him and not Baartman

 

[jamie smith]

When Fakhar scored 193, he was also 50 off 70 but he was struggling to get the timing. Once in, Fakhar was unstoppable in a short space of time, he added 140 runs off 70-80 balls then.

So yeah, a player like Saim can afford to take his time as long as that’s the kind of acceleration he wants to achieve later.

I wouldn’t afford this luxury to Imam.

saim apparently doesnt have any weakness but seems to be a bit shaky against the outswingers or the ball moving away,so he needs to work on this aspect to have a good test career also

 

[Rana]

imams dead career is being revived by abd

Technique will either be dropped or moved down to 3

 

[jamie smith]

As long as it’s Phelu bowling to him and not Baartman

initially pak batters were playing baartman like prime garner .then at last did saim manage to show him his true worth

 

[Rana]

Pakistan setting a score this time

Rizwan 40 off 90 coming up

 

[jamie smith]

game over

 

[jamie smith]

king of quota system is back today

 

[Omer2002]

Batting first yep game over

 

[jamie smith]

Pakistan setting a score this time

Rizwan 40 off 90 coming up

will be surprised if he even manages a double digit score

 

[followed]

Zimbu, Abdullah and rizwan have to take some responsibility today.
They all have to score runs.

 

[Rana]

will be surprised if he even manages a double digit score

Naa he’s due runs

He will grind his way to something today

 

[followed]

Dang it. These sports 18 channel are ruining it for us.
Why can't they show this match instead of showing women match on two channels.

Nobody even watched women's cricket.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Toss Update: South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field



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

 

[mominsaigol]

Game over unless saim does something. Pakistan are the worst batting first side in the world. Don't have a clue on how to set targets.

 

[jamie smith]

baartman not playingtoday but 18 yearold baccha is back

 

[followed]

Zimbu must be feeling a bit of pressure today. Zimbu go and do something significant today.

 

[jamie smith]

Dang it. These sports 18 channel are ruining it for us.
Why can't they show this match instead of showing women match on two channels.

Nobody even watched women's cricket.

they show the match after the 1st bowl is bowld

 

[jamie smith]

Zimbu must be feeling a bit of pressure today. Zimbu go and do something significant today.

one cover drive , one straight drive and a soft shot to get out is always on the menu

 

[followed]

they show the match after the 1st bowl is bowld

Yeah they started showing after the first innings in the previous match. I think they will do the same today.

 

[jamie smith]

jiocinema showed the full match

Yeah they started showing after the first innings in the previous match. I think they will do the same today.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

South African bowling looks weak today. Good opportunity for Pakistan to close the series.

 

[jamie smith]

Mohammad Rizwan: Same team for us. I am happy with the victory, but the way the guys did since the last 2 months we are following a process. We decide after going to the ground, whatever the situation demands we have to adjust to that. Normally I like chasing, but we will have to do whatever the game demands. We believe in each other and we feel 280+ would be enough on this Rizwan seems to have an obsession with the word process

 

[FearlessRoar]

Riz feel 280+ would be enough on this ground.

 

[jamie smith]

will the learn end today?

 

[followed]

jiocinema showed the full match

I don't watch it online. I have bought all the sports channel for the TV.

They have 3 channels but they show women's match on 2 channels.

 

[jamie smith]

Riz feel 280+ would be enough on this ground.

at least 50 runs will be needed more. about 330 is par

 

[followed]

I don't watch it online. I have bought all the sports channel for the TV.

They have 3 channels but they show women's match on 2 channels.

Today they will show it on sports18 3 it looks like

 

[Rana]

Mohammad Rizwan: Same team for us. I am happy with the victory, but the way the guys did since the last 2 months we are following a process. We decide after going to the ground, whatever the situation demands we have to adjust to that. Normally I like chasing, but we will have to do whatever the game demands. We believe in each other and we feel 280+ would be enough on this Rizwan seems to have an obsession with the word process

Process

Momentum

XYZ

Learn

 

[BouncerGuy]

They need to score 300+ otherwise it is gonna get difficult to defend...

 

[Rana]

No Baartman

I don’t feel like watching anymore!

 

[Hellion]

Amazing how Pakistan started winning bilateral series after the rest of the world stopped caring about them.

Good stuff

 

[Rana]

Jee oye Saim

 

[Rana]

“Ball acha Aa raha hai”

Good track it seems

 

[Rana]

Thanks for coming Abdullah

 

[Aviator]

Can someone start a signature campaign to throw shafique out of team?

 

[Fazzy321]

That should be the end of Abdullah from ODIs

 

[MHN1293]

Fakhar Saim opening combo has never looked any better

 

[Ali Active]

Abdullah as useless as someone gets

 

[mominsaigol]

Abdullah is so rubbish smh

 

[Nikhil_cric]

D/N matches here heavily favour teams batting first 24:9 I think. Also they have 4 changes in what could be a series decider ?

Bilateral ODIs have zero importance now don't they ?

 

[NeVerMind]

Can we just get Fakhar to return now?

 

[jamie smith]

technique gone for a duck

 

[kingusama92]

Why do they keep continuing with him? Time to bring Fakhar back.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Abdullah Shafique with a new poultry farm - 6 ducks in this year.

 

[Rana]

Jansen great cricketer

He is from the breed of legendary Saffers who played under Greame Smith

 

[shah_1]

Hafeez is bradman in comparison to Abdullah.

Should not play for Pakistan. Fakhar should open and our third choice opener should be Maaz Sadaqaat

 

[IAJ]

Strange to see a Test opener not lasting long against new ball.

 

[Rana]

Maphaka v Saim

Love this battle

 

[shah_1]

Strange to see a Test opener not lasting long against new ball.

He is not test standard

Scored runs on highway

 

[Aviator]

Is shafique 'SNOW' some how related to naqvi?
How can a dud like him play for any national team... By looking at his face one can know he isn't good enough to hold a bat.

 

[Rana]

Spray gun Maphaka