Pakistan veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan laid the foundation for a convincing, decisive 81-run win over South Africa in the second one-day international at Newlands on Thursday. Pakistan’s total of 329 all-outs was prepared by Babar (73) and captain Rizwan (80), who put on 115 off 142 balls for the third wicket. Heinrich Klaasen made 97 for South Africa but the hosts were bowled out for 248. Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (four for 47) and Naseem Shah (three for 37) were the main destroyers.

The win gave Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. With Pakistan’s win on Thursday, they became the first team in the 21st century to win three ODI bilaterals in South Africa.

It was their fifth consecutive series win – and the third for the Champions Trophy hosts of the southern hemisphere season, following wins in Australia and Zimbabwe.

“It is a team game, from start to finish all the boys are involved and contribute,” Rizwan said.

Babar and Rizwan, whose combined 204 deliveries in a day exceeded the rest of the team’s total, batted solidly and sensibly before Babar was bowled out in the 33rd over for a total of 192 deliveries.

Rizwan followed three overs later with a sensational diving catch off his own bowling from 18-year-old one-day debutant Kwena Maphaka.

But the stage was set for powerful knocks from the following batsmen, particularly player of the match Kamran Ghulam, who hit five sixes while making 63 off 32 balls.

With license to shoot, Pakistan scored 161 runs in the last 17 overs while losing the remaining six wickets.

“Babar and I started slowly. We wanted 300, but we got 320 and more. I have never seen Kamran Ghulam play such an innings,” Rizwan said.

Maphaka, the left-arm fast bowler, took heavy punishment but took four wickets and conceded 72 runs.

South Africa scored more quickly than Pakistan in most innings, but although all of the first six batsmen made starts, only Klaasen managed a significant score.

Klaasen, who scored 86 in the first game in Paarl on Tuesday, hit eight fours and four sixes in 74 balls. He was the last man out and was caught on the deep midwicket boundary.

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