Pakistan is riding high after a thrilling victory in the series opener and aims to clinch the three-match One-Day International series when they face South Africa again at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium on Thursday.
The confident home side won a nail-biting first ODI on Tuesday, chasing down 264 with just two balls to spare to secure a tight two-wicket victory. The win came despite a challenging pitch that increasingly aided spinners as the innings progressed.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s hosts faced early trouble after electing to field first, as Matthew Breetzke’s South African openers dominated the proceedings, helping the tourists reach 98 without loss. South Africa was comfortably positioned at 191-3 after 33 overs, but a late collapse ensued as Pakistan’s spinners took control, restricting the eventual total.
Conditions at the traditionally dry venue are expected to favor batsmen initially, though spin is likely to play a crucial role again in the later stages of the contest. For South Africa, the immediate priority is quick adaptation and disciplined batting to counteract Pakistan’s deep and varied bowling attack. The tourists’ batsmen, in particular, will be focused on building strong partnerships and showing greater discipline against threats like Shaheen, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and the impressive all-rounder Saim Ayub, who earned the player-of-the-match award in the opener for his combined effort (39 runs and 2-39).
While the Pakistan squad opted for rest on Wednesday, the South Africans held a full training session at the Iqbal Stadium, focusing on batting, bowling, and fielding drills.
### Captain and Keeper Reflect
Following the tense opener, Captain Shaheen lauded his batting unit for their match-winning show on the tricky surface. “Our bowlers did well to bring us back and restrict South Africa to a reasonable total in the final ten overs,” he stated, “but credit must go to our batters for handling a wicket that had both turn and swing in the latter stages.” Regarding the series opener’s dramatic conclusion, the skipper acknowledged that tense finishes are common in cricket but promised the team would seek a more comfortable result moving forward.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan defended the collective decision to bowl first, citing the potential for the dew factor later in the day. Despite the victory, Rizwan admitted that he and fellow batsman Salman Ali Agha (who were set at 196-3) missed an opportunity to close out the game earlier.
“Yes, we should have finished the game,” Rizwan conceded, noting the wicket’s awkward behavior—skidding, gripping, and bouncing—even when they were established at the crease. He vowed the team would focus on correcting those mistakes in future games.
Rizwan also praised the local crowds, noting the tremendous support the team receives across all domestic venues, including this historic international match at Iqbal Stadium after a 17-year gap.
From the touring side, pacer Corbin Bosch agreed that the wicket favored the new ball initially, but concurred that late-match spin was critical for both sides. Bosch ultimately suggested that South Africa fell “perhaps 15 runs short” of setting a truly challenging target.
