The Pakistan tour of South Africa has taken an exciting turn in the ongoing ODI series, with Pakistan defeating the hosts in back-to-back matches to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series. The second ODI was packed with thrilling moments, particularly from the Pakistan side, as they outperformed South Africa on their home turf. For South Africa, the debut of young Kwena Maphaka was a standout moment, with the promising bowler taking an impressive 4-wicket haul. Here's a detailed review of the second ODI between South Africa and Pakistan.
Kwena Maphaka 4-fer on Debut
Young cricketer Kwena Maphaka made his ODI debut against Pakistan in the second match of the series. This talented player has been regarded as a hot prospect in South Africa since last year, and he has now made his debut in both T20I and ODI formats. Maphaka’s debut was both sweet and memorable, as he opened the bowling alongside Marco Jansen. He started strong, complementing Jansen well by maintaining the right length and line, which helped break an important partnership.
During the match, Maphaka took 4 wickets, dismissing Saim Ayub, Mohammed Rizwan, Kamran Ghulam, and Haris Rauf. Although he began well by hitting good line and length, he struggled during the death overs, with Kamran Ghulam taking advantage of the situation. However, Maphaka ultimately had the last laugh, despite the damage that had been done. Finishing with figures of 4 wickets for 72 runs in 9 overs is a commendable achievement for the 18-year-old on his international debut, and he certainly has a long way to go in his career.
Kamran Ghulam Impactful Finish
Kamran Ghulam is taking full advantage of his opportunities and becoming a reliable player for the team, regardless of the format. He has already demonstrated his value in this format with a century against Australia on their home turf, and his strong performance continued with a fantastic innings of 63 off 32 balls, helping Pakistan post a total of 329 runs. His knock included 4 fours and 5 sixes.Â
Kamran played strategically, utilizing the deathovers effectively and proving to be unstoppable. With this innings, he is becoming the crucial element Pakistan has been missing in the finishing department. His inclusion has significantly strengthened the middle order, and he was awarded the Player of the Match for his impactful performance.
Klassen’s Failed Effort
Heinrich Klassen has been a key factor for South Africa during their recent match collapses, and this match was no exception. South Africa lost their top order to Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose 4-wicket haul was the highlight of Pakistan's bowling performance. Klassen was losing partners who failed to build on a decent start; Aiden Markram and David Miller were dismissed during a crucial phase of the innings. Klaasen fought hard but fell just short of his century, getting out for 97 runs off 84 balls, with Naseem Shah taking his wicket. Immediately after Klassen's dismissal, South Africa suffered another collapse towards the end of their innings, resulting in an 81-run loss. Consequently, they lost their home series against Pakistan 0-2.
