Babar Azam Gone! How Proteas Pacer Executed The Perfect Trap To Dismiss Pakistan Batter

Babar Azam dismissed [Source: '@gavaskar_theman/X.Com]

After a long time, Babar Azam looked in good rhythm, however, his hopes of a stellar century was dashed away as Proteas pacer, Andile Phehlukwayo executed the perfect plan to dismiss the Pakistan batter in the second ODI.

After the dismissal of Abdullah Shafique, Babar came to the crease and looked in ominous touch, right from the word go. He played a gorgeous square drive to make his intentions clear and forged crucial partnerships alongside Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan.

In the process, he also surpassed MS Dhoni by slamming his 39th fifty-plus score Vs SENA countries, one more than the former India skipper. However, just when it looked like he'll score his 20th ODI ton, disaster struck.

How Phehlukwayo trapped Babar Azam

Babar Azam has a weakness while playing the pull shot. It's just like how Virat Kohli has the weakness against the outside the off-stump deliveries.

Just like Kohli's cover-drive, Babar's pull-shot is his go to shot in pressure situations, however, time and again, it has led to his demise in white-ball cricket. South Africa knew Babar's weakness as their skipper, Temba Bavuma placed a short-mid wicket and told the pacer to dug it short.

Phehlukwayo obliged and did the same and the result was imminent as Babar pulled, but found the short mid-wicket fielder and was dismissed for 73 off 95 balls.

Rizwan dismissed as well

Meanwhile, his batting partner, Mohammad Rizwan was also dismissed before reaching the hundred-run mark. He started slowly against South Africa, but quickly picked up the pace as he smashed a couple of sixes to reach the fifty-run mark.

The Pakistan skipper batted with aggression, but Kwena Maphaka had some other plans as he took a sharp catch on his bowling to dismiss the captain.

---

ALSO READ

Rizwan Congratulates Babar Azam As He Breaks Dhoni's Record With A Fine Fifty

---