Pakistan Takes Commanding Lead in Series Against South Africa

Pakistan has asserted its dominance in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, emerging victorious in the second match by a sweeping 81-run margin. This triumph not only extends their unbeaten series run to five consecutive victories but also marks a historic milestone, as Pakistan becomes the first team in the 21st century to claim three bilateral series in South Africa.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played pivotal roles in the win, scoring 73 and 80 runs respectively, while Kamran Ghulam's explosive 63 off 32 deliveries in the last 17 overs sealed the win for Pakistan. The team's fifth consecutive series victory follows hot on the heels of triumphs in Australia, Zimbabwe, and two series in the Southern Hemisphere season.

South Africa's bowling attack, which boasted names like Kagiso Rabada, struggled to contain Pakistan's pursuit, conceding 58 runs in nine overs to Marco Jansen and 119 runs in 15 overs to Aiden Markram and Kwenz Maphaka. Rabada's inconsistent efforts were capped off by dismissing Abdullah Shafique for a third successive duck, while the team's poor start was further complicated by a 75-minute rain delay.

In the aftermath of the match, Rizwan praised his team's all-around effort, acknowledging that the win was a result of their collective performance from start to finish. As Pakistan looks to seal the series, South Africa will need to regroup and improve their performance to prevent a whitewash in the final match.