Tri-Series: Klaasen's 87 sets South Africa's 353-run target against Pakistan
Heinrich Klaasen's explosive 56-ball 87, along with half-centuries from Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke, helped South Africa set a challenging target of 353 runs against Pakistan in the crucial Tri-Nation Series match on Wednesday. The victory will secure a spot in the final against New Zealand.
South Africa's captain, Bavuma, won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that proved fruitful as the visitors put up 352/5 in their allotted 50 overs.
The opening partnership between Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi started strong, with the pair adding 51 runs before Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed de Zorzi for 21 runs off 18 balls.
Bavuma, joined by in-form Breetzke, continued the solid foundation with a 119-run partnership for the second wicket. Bavuma's innings was marked by 13 boundaries, and he was dismissed for 82 off 96 balls after being run out by Saud Shakeel’s direct hit.
Breetzke carried on with the momentum, scoring 83 runs off 84 balls, including 10 fours and a six. His wicket came in the 39th over when he was dismissed by Khushdil Shah, and shortly after, Afridi claimed the wicket of Wiaan Mulder for just two runs.
Despite the setbacks, Klaasen launched a powerful assault in the final overs, top-scoring for South Africa with a rapid 56-ball 87, including 11 fours and three sixes, pushing the total past 300. Klaasen's dismissal in the 48th over was the final blow to the innings.
Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking 2 wickets for 66 runs in his 10-over spell. Khushdil Shah and Naseem Shah contributed with one wicket each.
Pakistan will now need to chase down the 353-run target to stay alive in the series and secure a spot in the final against New Zealand.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), 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.