Matthew Breetzke can do nothing wrong at the moment. After smashing 150 on debut against New Zealand, the youngster scored 83 runs to help South Africa post 352 on a flat surface in Karachi against Pakistan. Breetzke, who walked in at number three put on a 119-run stand for the second with skipper Temba Bavuma which laid the foundation for a huge first innings. Later, Henrich Klassen added the finishing touches with a blistering knock of 87.
After winning the toss, Bavuma had no hesitation in batting first. The skipper and Tony de Zorzi put on 51 for the first wicket before the latter got out for 22. That was the only success that the hosts had for a while, as Breetzke and Bavuma put the Pakistan attack to the sword by mixing caution with aggression. However, the Proteas skipper was run out on 82 due to some miscommunication with Breetzke in the 29th over. However, by the time Bavuma was dismissed he had laid the foundation for Klassen & Co to push for a 300-plus score.
Pakistan bowlers yet again leak runs at death, as Klassen puts on a show
If it was Glenn Phillips in the first ODI that exhibited exceptional power-hitting skills, then it was the turn of Klassen today to repeat the dose on the hosts' bowlers. The Protea batter showed his wide range of shots and peppered the short boundary. Shaheen Afridi & Co had no answers to Klassen's show as he powered South Africa to 352 for the loss of five wickets.
Pakistan batters now need to bat out of their skins to chase this huge total and book a place in the final to face New Zealand. While chasing is not difficult on a flat Karachi surface, the host batters are not in great form.
