CAPE TOWN: Captain Mohammad Rizwan hailed his charges, saying it was a team effort that helped Pakistan clinch a second straight major one-day International series away from home with a comprehensive 81-run victory against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday.
After beating Australia 2-1 last month, Pakistan gained an unassailable 2-0 lead over the Proteas ahead of the third and final fixture in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Overall, it was the fifth successive bilateral ODI series win — and the third in the southern hemisphere season, after they also won in Zimbabwe — as Pakistan build momentum towards the Champions Trophy they will host in February.
“It’s a team game, from beginning to end all of the guys are involved and contributing,” a delighted Rizwan said at the presentation ceremony.
Veterans Babar Azam (73) and Rizwan (80) laid the foundation for an above-par of 329 all out with the impetus for their total coming from a superb 63 from 32 deliveries by man-of-the-match Kamran Ghulam.
Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (4- 47) and Naseem Shah (3-37) were the main destroyers as the hosts were bowled out for 248 despite Heinrich Klaasen making 97.
