Pakistan cricket team continued their brilliant run in ODI cricket with their second successive series win – coming on the back of their triumph in Australia earlier this year. Mohammad Rizwan’s side have secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against South Africa after winning the second ODI at the Newlands stadium in Cape Town by a massive 81 runs on Thursday night.
They had earlier won the first ODI in Paarl by three wickets. Pakistan’s victory in the second ODI marked a historic milestone, making them the first team in the 21st century to win three ODI series against South Africa on South African soil.
Before their triumph in 2024, Pakistan had secured series wins in 2013 and 2021. Remarkably, these three victories came in just seven attempts. Australia is the only other team to achieve this feat, but they required 10 attempts to claim three ODI series in South Africa.
Kamran Ghulam is the player of the match for his 63 off 32 balls in the second ODI against South Africa!
#SAvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/m8U5MVvCRa — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 19, 2024
The series win provides Pakistan with significant momentum heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February next year. The tournament will follow a ‘hybrid’ model as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, with India playing their matches in Dubai or Colombo. Pakistan, eager to build on their current form, will aim to defend the title they famously won against India in 2017.
Pakistan secured a dominant victory, fueled by half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan (80), Babar Azam (73), and Kamran Ghulam (63), setting a formidable total of 329. The Proteas were unable to match the target, as a clinical bowling display by Shaheen Afridi (4/47) and Naseem Shah (3/37) sealed the win for the visitors.
This marked Pakistan’s fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series triumph, following recent victories against Australia and Zimbabwe. The win also made Pakistan the first Asian team to clinch three ODI series in South Africa, having previously succeeded there in 2021 and 2013.
The series win adds to Pakistan’s growing momentum ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy next year. The team is striving to become only the second side, after Australia (2006 and 2009), to successfully defend the prestigious trophy. Pakistan last claimed the Champions Trophy by defeating arch-rivals India in the 2017 final at The Oval in London, and their current form positions them as strong contenders for the 2024 edition.
Captain Rizwan expressed his delight with the team’s performance, singling out Kamran Ghulam for his Player of the Match contribution, which included explosive late hitting to bolster Pakistan’s total.
“All of the guys were involved and everyone performed. We got the partnership but the start was good. Myself and Babar decided to go slow and lay the foundation. We were looking at 300 but we made 320 thanks to Kamran Ghulam. As a skipper I have the trust and belief in him but not that much as he played today. The bowlers then bowled well to restrict them,” Rizwan said in the post-match press conference.
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