Rizwan, Babar, Kamran hit fifties as Pakistan rack up 329

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's century stand was aided by a breezy half-century from Kamran Ghulam as Pakistan posted 329 in the second One-Day International against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, on Thursday.

Put in to bat, Pakistan were pushed on the backfoot early with Marco Jansen inducing an outside edge off Abdullah Shafique in the opening over, which was caught by the 'keeper as the batter fell for a second-ball duck. Even as Pakistan didn't go on a conservative mode thereafter, stroking regular boundaries, both Saim Ayub and Babar held back on playing too many shots over the infield in the Powerplay. The duo added 48 runs in 56 balls before Kwena Maphaka, playing his maiden ODI, got a ball to bounce steeply, a delivery which was mistimed by Ayub to the fielder at third.

The Powerplay ended with a wicket-maiden, but Babar and Rizwan ensured that the momentum didn't flip in favour of the hosts. They remained busy in the middle rotating the strike over regularly. Rizwan took the odd risks every now and then. In the 23rd over, he slogswept Aiden Markram for a six. Two balls later, his attempt to paddle the offspinner almost proved fatal but the opportunity for a catch was put down by the 'keeper.

Babar also continued the attack against the offie, and in his next over, brought up his half-century. Rizwan then picked pace, and deposited Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin for sixes en route to his half-century mark. Nonetheless, South Africa struck in quick succession to dismiss both the senior batters. Babar pulled Andile Phehlukwayo to the fielder at mid wicket, while Rizwan who smacked Mphaka for three consecutive boundaries in the next over, ended up offering a return catch to the pacer in the 36th over.

At 192 for 4, with two new batters in the middle, Pakistan had to press the accelerator in the death overs. They found that surge courtesy Ghulam, who got going by smoking Phehlukwayo for a boundary and a six. Salman Agha too took the attack to Tabraiz Shamsi from the other end, by hitting the spinner for consecutive boundaries, but his stay at the crease was cut short on 33 by Fortuin. Nonetheless, there was no reprieve for Shamsi as he was deposited for two sixes in his next over by Ghulam. Jansen, Phehlukwayo and Maphaka all bore the brunt of his attack in the death overs as he cruised away to a 32-ball 63.

David Miller effected a stunning run-out to send back Irfan Khan, but South Africa dropped way too many catches for their own good. After Klaasen put down Rizwan early in his innings, Irfan and Ghulam got a reprieve each by Temba Bavuma and Maphaka respectively in the end overs. Shaheen Afridi also joined the late carnage with an enterprising cameo, but South Africa picked up four wickets in the last six balls of the innings to bundle out the visitors.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 329 in 49.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 80, Babar Azam 73, Kamran Ghulam 63; Kwena Maphaka 4-72, Marco Jansen 3-71) vs South Africa