In a high-intensity match at Newlands, Shaheen Shah Afridi's deadly seam bowling led Pakistan to victory against South Africa, securing the ODI series win with a game to spare. Afridi's dominance with the ball proved too much for the South African batsmen, leaving them 81 runs short of the target. Pakistan now looks to seal a clean sweep in the final ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Pakistan Triumphs in ODI Series: Afridi's Brilliance Secures Victory
In a thrilling ODI encounter at Newlands, Pakistan emerged victorious over South Africa, securing an unassailable lead in the three-match series. The triumph was engineered by the exceptional performance of Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose pinpoint seam bowling proved decisive.
Match Highlights
Pakistan, batting first, posted a competitive total of 299/5, thanks to a magnificent century from Fakhar Zaman (115). South Africa's response was crippled by Afridi's brilliance, who claimed five wickets for just 44 runs. The Proteas were dismissed for 218, handing Pakistan a comfortable 81-run victory.
Afridi's Dominance
Afridi's outstanding bowling display underlined his status as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the world. With his fiery pace and impeccable line and length, he consistently troubled the South African batsmen. His ability to extract bounce and movement from the Newlands wicket proved invaluable.
Series Implications
The victory gives Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series. They will be looking to complete a clean sweep in the final ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday. For South Africa, the series loss is a blow to their hopes of qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League final.
Top 5 FAQs
Q1: Who was the Player of the Match? A: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Q2: What was the winning margin? A: 81 runs
Q3: How many wickets did Afridi take? A: 5
Q4: What was Fakhar Zaman's score? A: 115
Q5: When is the final ODI? A: Sunday, April 9th, in Johannesburg
Historical Context
The two teams have a rich history in ODI cricket, with Pakistan having the edge in recent years. Pakistan has won seven of the last nine ODI meetings between the two sides, including a 2-0 victory in South Africa in 2019.
Conclusion
Pakistan's victory in the second ODI against South Africa was a testament to their growing strength in the 50-over format. The brilliance of Shaheen Shah Afridi played a pivotal role, and they will now be keen to complete a series sweep in Johannesburg. The loss is a major setback for South Africa, who must now focus on rebuilding and preparing for the upcoming World Cup Super League matches.
During a match on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, one of the leaders of La Facción Ingobernable reportedly dislocated his elbow after getting caught on the bottom rope. Despite the injury, he managed to continue with the post-match beatdown. It is uncertain if the injury will affect his future matches, including one scheduled for the following day in Mexico. Viewers can catch up on all the details of the incident and the rest of the AEW episode here.
After major flight delays and security restrictions, star Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill landed in Perth for the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Along with the rest of the team, they will face off against Australia starting on October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney. Questions about the future of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI team have sparked debate among fans.
Former New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, has been signed on as the strategic advisor for IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants. He will be replacing Zaheer Khan and will be working with the likes of Justin Langer and Rishabh Pant. Williamson's appointment comes after a three-month-long process that began during his time in the UK, where he was also involved in the Hundred. The Super Giants will be looking to improve their performance after a seventh-place finish in IPL 2025.
Amidst speculations of his retirement, Virat Kohli, the iconic former captain of the Indian cricket team, took to social media to share a powerful message of resilience. With the first match of the Australian ODI series approaching, all eyes are on Kohli and his fellow veteran teammate Rohit Sharma, who will be returning to the squad as a player but not as captain. As the two legends approach the end of their international careers, fans are eagerly waiting to see how they fare on the field.
Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has collaborated with the faith-tech platform Bhagavad Gita for All, highlighting the use of the Gita's teachings for improved performance and mental wellness. With over 10,000 books sold and 1 lakh users on its mobile app, the platform aims to bring ancient wisdom into daily life through modern tech. Iyer's composure and focus on the field make him a perfect fit for this partnership, which also aims to reach Gen Z and Millennials for high-performance training.
The city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India has been recommended as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Sport's Executive Board. This decision is set to be finalized on November 26 at the body's General Assembly, after being sent to the full membership of Commonwealth Sport. Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, expressed his pride and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their vision and commitment towards making Ahmedabad the Sporting Capital of India.
Despite two goals from Ronaldo, Portugal was unable to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo's impressive performance, including his 40th and 41st World Cup qualifying goals, wasn't enough to overcome Hungary's late equalizer. Portugal will have to wait until November for another chance to qualify, with hopes of giving their star player one final shot at a major tournament.
In a heated match between India and Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the Blue Tigers suffered a painful defeat as they failed to capitalize on their chances. Despite an early goal from Lallianzuala Chhangte, India's hopes were extinguished as Song Ui-young scored twice for Singapore, sealing their first win of the qualifying campaign. With just two points from four matches, India's chances of advancing to the next round now hang by a thread, as they would need to win all their remaining matches and hope for other results to go their way.
In a thrilling AFC Asian Cup qualifier match, Singapore stunned India with a 2-1 away victory, effectively ending the latter's hopes of qualification. Despite India's early lead through a stunning goal from Chhangte, Song Ui-young's clinical brace secured the win for Singapore. The result leaves India at the bottom of their group, while Singapore stays within reach of group leaders Hong Kong. India's missed chances ultimately proved costly, as their promising front-foot approach fell short in the end.
Shami, who was a key member of India's 2025 Champions Trophy winning team, has been left out of the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour, despite being fit and playing domestic cricket. This comes as a surprise, given his recent performances and the injury-prone pacer's determination to make a comeback in the international circuit. Meanwhile, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's vague explanation only adds to the speculation surrounding Shami's omission.