KARACHI (National Times) South Africa set a massive target of 353 runs against Pakistan after opting to bat first in the all-important clash with both teams eyeing a place in the final of the tri-series against New Zealand. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma’s decision to bat first paid dividends as the visitors racked up 352/5 in their allotted 50 overs. The Proteas got off to a decent start to their innings as their new opening pair of Tony de Zorzi and skipper Bavuma added 51 runs for the first wicket. The opening stand culminated on the last delivery of the eighth over when Shaheen Shah Afridi got de Zorzi caught at the first slip. The left-handed opener made 21 from 18 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six. Bavuma was then joined by in-form Matthew Breetzke in the middle and the duo laid a solid foundation for a massive total by putting together a 119-run partnership for the second wicket. The century-plus stand ended when Bavuma got run out, courtesy of a direct hit from Saud Shakeel. The South African captain struck 13 boundaries on his way to a 96-ball 82. Breetzke then shared a 68-run partnership with Klaasen before falling victim to Khushdil Shah in the 39th over. He scored 83 off 84 deliveries, laced with 10 fours and a six. South Africa then suffered another blow to their batting expedition when Afridi dismissed Wiaan Mulder for two in the next over. But Klaasen, unfazed by the back-to-back blows, launched a late onslaught and pushed South Africa’s total past the 300-run mark. The right-handed batter eventually perished in the 48th over after top-scoring for the touring side with a 56-ball 87, studded with 11 fours and three sixes. Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan, picking up two wickets for 66 runs in his 10 overs, while Khushdil and Naseem Shah chipped in with one scalp apiece.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa: Matthew Breetzke, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
