Heinrich Klaasen on the Proteas having to fly to Dubai for 18 hours before returning to Pakistan and his desire to be the world’s best.

Captain Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke and Heinrich Klaasen scored big to lift the Proteas to 352-5 against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday.

Twenty six-year-old Breetzke followed his 150 against New Zealand in Lahore on Monday with an attractive 84-ball 83, spiced with a six and 10 fours, after South Africa won the toss.

The winner of this match will play New Zealand in Friday’s final in Karachi. The Tri-Series is a warm-up for the Champions Trophy that starts in Pakistan and the UAE next week.

Breetzke bettered West Indian batsman Desmond Haynes’s aggregate of 195 runs in his first two matches in 1978 before he fell to a brilliant catch off spinner Khushdil Shah.

Pakistan’s vaunted bowling attack failed to stop the tourists from scoring a big total, with Bavuma (82) and Klaasen (87) also chipping in.

Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi (22), one of four changes in the Proteas XI, put on 51 for the opening stand. The captain then built a second-wicket stand of 119 with Breetzke.

Bavuma was run out after cracking 13 fours in his 96-ball knock.

Klaasen lifted the tempo with a rapid 56-ball innings, smashing three sixes and 11 fours as the South Africans added 110 runs in the last 10 overs.

Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch remained not out with 44 and 15 respectively to take South Africa past 350.

Spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was Pakistan’s best bowler with 2-66.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: © PCB

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