South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd ODI: SA level series with 5-wicket win in 2nd ODI 

South Africa came back strongly to beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the 2nd ODI played at Kingsmead, Durban on Tuesday. Despite Hasan Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed's 90 run partnership, South Africa bowled out Pakistan for a modest total. The hosts South Africa were in big trouble before der Dussen and Phehlukwayo partnership helped to reach the target.

South African captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to field first. It was a good start by the hosts as Kagiso Rabada got an early wicket of Imam Ul Haq for 5 runs. Babar Azam was looking fluent with his timing while Fakhar Zaman was struggling for it. Rabada dismissed Babar Azam for 12 runs. Pakistan were reduced to 39 for 2 at the end of 10 overs.

Mohammed Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed in quick succession to leave Pakistan in big trouble at 58 for 4 in the 15th over. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and looked in tatters with the scoreline reading 112 for 8 in 32nd over. Sarfraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali showed their counter-attacking strokes and put pressure on the South African bowling line-up.

Both Sarfraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali added 90 runs for the 9th wicket. Hasan Ali reached his half-century off just 38 and was the last batsman to be dismissed with his best career score of 59 runs off 45 balls. Pakistan were bowled out for 203 in 45.5 overs. For South Africa, Andile Phehlukwayo picked 4 wickets, Shamsi took 3 wickets, Rabada 2 wickets.

Chasing the target of 204 runs to win, Shaheen Shah Afridi was superb with the new ball picking wickets of Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, and Faf du Plessis to leave the hosts in big trouble at 29 for 3. Van der Dussen looked composed with his stroke play. South Africa was 52 for 3 at end of 10 overs.

Van der Dussen and David Miller added 51 runs for the 4th wicket before Shadab Khan dismissed David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen in successive deliveries to reduce hosts at 80 for 5.

Van der Dussen played with composure and steadied the ship with Andile Phehlukwayo. The left-handed all-rounder Phehlukwayo was lucky but made sure that South Africa didn’t lose any more wickets. van der Dussen reached his half-century off 81 balls while Phehlukwayo scored his maiden ODI fifty off 54 balls. Both of them added 127 unbeaten runs for the 6th wicket. South Africa won the match by 5 wickets with 48 balls to spare.

For Pakistan Shaheen Shah Afridi was brilliant with the new ball, picking up 3 wickets while Shadab Khan took 2 wickets.

South Africa 207 for 5 in 42 overs (van der Dussen 80*, Phehlukwayo 69*, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/44, Shadab Khan 2/46) beat Pakistan 203 in 45.5 overs ( Hasan Ali 59, Sarfraz Ahmed 41, Andile Phehlukwayo 4/22, Shamsi 3/56) by 5 wickets.

The series is level at 1-1. The third ODI match will be played at Super Sports Park, Centurion on 25th January.