South Africa vs Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan's Pakistan cricket team won the second ODI by 81 runs on Thursday in Cape Town, giving them an insurmountable lead of 2-0 in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. Babar Azam and Rizwan's respective performances of 73 and 80 helped Pakistan score 329 runs. However, Kamran Ghulam used four fours and five sixes to smash 63 runs off just 32 balls, playing the real match-winning knock. The match however was blotted by the heated altercation between South Africa and Pakistan players. Heinrich Klaasen's clash with Haris Rauf and Rizwan made a lot of headlines.
Following Shaheen Shah Afridi's spell with four wickets, Pakistan easily won and had no trouble defending the total. Drama, however, broke out during the game after the 26th over ended, when Heinrich Klaasen and Mohammad Rizwan were spotted slugging it out.
Cape Town clash
The episode took place after Haris Rauf bowled the last ball of the 26th over. Much to Heinrich Klaasen's chagrin, Rauf muttered something to the SA batter. After that, the umpires intervened and urged the participants to continue the game. Then, Mohammad Rizwan entered the fray, when he was observed conversing animatedly with Klaasen. Klaasen was not in the mood to back down, and there was some finger-pointing directed at the Proteas heavy-hitter.
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Babar Azam intervenes
Then, to find out what was causing the argument, Babar Azam hurried up to Rizwan and Klaasen. Then Haris Rauf began to move toward Rizwan and Klaasen, but Babar urged him to stop. Things soon returned to normal, and the game started up again.
Heinrich Klaasen's knock failed to level series
Heinrich Klaasen was crucial to South Africa's chances of winning as they chased 330, and the big-hitting right-hander delivered with a 97-run knock off 74 balls that included eight fours and four sixes. But Klaasen failed to get any help and kept losing partners at the other end, which allowed Pakistan to win by 81 runs.
The highlight of the match was Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed four wickets. He dismissed Kwena Maphaka, Andile Phehlukwayo, Marco Jansen, and David Miller. Abrar Ahmed took two wickets, while Naseem Shah picked three. But Haris Rauf failed to take any wickets. Pakistan has now won two consecutive ODI series. In the previous three-match ODI series, the Rizwan-led side defeated Australia Down Under 2-1.
