South Africa cruised their way to a daunting total of 352/5 against Pakistan in Karachi in the last preliminary fixture of the tri-series with New Zealand waiting in the final. Heinrich Klaasen’s late heroics 56-ball blietzkrig for 87, featuring 11 boundaries and three maximums, was instrumental in giving the Proteas the final push but the foundation of the innings was set up 80s each from Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke with the duo sharing a 119-run second wicket stand. They lasted 20 overs looking unbeatable at the crease and incidentally, it was eventually a horrid run-out that brought about the demise of their partnership. However, as shocking as the mix-up was to strand Bavuma 18 short of a sixth ODI ton, it was what followed that truly made headlines.
In the 30th over, Shaheen Afridi and Matthew Breetzke had been involved in an ugly clash that involved tripping, shoving, threats with a raised bat, and lots of abuse, thus adding spice to the already heated affair. Just five balls later, Bavuma was sold down the river by Breetzke and had to watch from the middle of the pitch while the hosts took off the bails to affect his dismissal. Bavuma had no option but to begin his slow trot back to the pavillion but to his surprise, Kamran Ghulam came charging in from square leg and let off a huge exalt and a fist pump right in front of Bavuma while a screaming Saud Shakeel came rushing form behind the stumps and were it not for Salman Agha Ali taking preventive action, it looked like the Pakistani batter would have ended up knocking out the South African skipper.
Taken aback by the chaos around him, 34-year-old Proteas in trademark Bavuma style simply stopped in his tracks, allowing the hubbub in front of him end with disgust writ large on his face before continuing with the walk-off. Twitterati was not all too happy with Pakistan’s behaviour either.
so Aggresive!!!
haha!
lmao you’d think they won a worldcup or something, its just bavuma bruv https://t.co/UfLXEzZa08
— Shuja (@JaaliPasha) February 12, 2025
BAVUMA behaved well against kids 😁
— Umarwarraich (@Umarwar91888843) February 12, 2025
😁
Temba Bavuma nd his boys destroying 2 rupees pakistani bowlers
— 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝕏 (@CricketGlimpseX) February 12, 2025
Lol!
Bavuma owns p0rkistan #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/Z9SzTeCPmZ
— Soham (@suryaxtripti) February 12, 2025
Don’t worry, bro. Lord Bavuma will cook them back—just wait and watch! pic.twitter.com/Wxf73HnK0A
— 𝙕𝙄𝙈𝘽𝙐 😎 (@Zimbu12_) February 12, 2025
He played Well!
Abck to Back Sixes!
Henrich is taking revenge on behalf of Bavuma
— Muhammad Shoaib (@Shaibihunyar) February 12, 2025
Bavuma >>>babar +rizwan#PAKvSA
— SYED AHMED 𝕏 (@syed_4hmad_18) February 12, 2025
