KARACHI: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma as well as Matthew Breetzke and Heinrich Klaasen struck dominant half-centuries to power their team to 352-5 in the tri-nation ODI series clash against Pakistan here at National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
After opting to bat first, Bavuma gave his team the desired start, stitching a 51-run opening partnership with Tony de Zorzi (22).
Matthew Breetzke joined Bavuma at the crease after the first wicket and added 119 runs for the second wicket to take the team’s total to 170 before the Proteas captain fell courtesy of a run-out.
South Africa captain departed after scoring 82 runs from 96 balls with the help of 13 boundaries.
Breetzke was joined by Heinrich Klaasen and they attacked Pakistan bowlers, scoring 68 runs in 56 balls before Khushdil Shah removed the former.
Wiaan Mulder (2) fell prey to Shaheen before Kyle Verreynne and Klaasen added a quick 78 runs from 48 balls for the fifth wicket.
Heinrich Klaasen scored 87 runs from 56 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and three sixes before Naseem Shah ended his stay at the crease.
Verreynne (44*) and Corbin Bosch (15) took their team’s total to 352-5 in their 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets while Naseem Shah and Khushdil Shah bagged one each.
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.
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It’s worth noting that the match between Pakistan and South Africa is a virtual semi-final of the tri-nation ODI series, with the winner securing a coveted spot in the tri-nation series final on February 14, where they will face New Zealand in a battle for the trophy.
New Zealand, on the back of star batter Kane Williamson’s century, defeated South Africa by six wickets to book a spot in the tri-nation ODI series final on 10 February.
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