Pakistan clinched the series against South Africa with a convincing seven-wicket victory in the third One-Day International held in Faisalabad. Saim Ayub’s impressive 77 runs off 70 balls played a significant role in guiding the team to a successful chase.
South Africa, after winning the toss, opted to bat first but faced a dramatic collapse. Despite a promising start, they could only muster 143 runs all out in 37.5 overs, leaving Pakistan with a manageable target. They achieved it comfortably, losing only three wickets with 149 balls remaining.
The South African innings began with a strong 72-run opening partnership between Quinton de Kock (53) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (39). However, the team faltered in the middle, losing their last nine wickets for just 71 runs, largely due to the effective bowling from the Pakistani spin attack.
Pakistan’s spinners were instrumental in stifling the run rate, with Abrar Ahmed delivering an outstanding performance, securing career-best figures of 4-27. His bowling was complemented by impressive spells from Salman Agha (2-18) and Mohammad Nawaz (2-31), who dismantled the middle order of South Africa.
Abrar’s early wickets came from bowled deliveries, showcasing his ability to outsmart the South African batsmen with variations. Reflecting on the team’s performance, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi highlighted the collective effort and hard work that led to their success, particularly praising the spinners for making the conditions challenging for the opposition.
Pakistan experienced an early setback when opener Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for a second consecutive duck. However, Ayub’s anchoring innings was crucial, supported by contributions from Babar Azam (27) and Mohammad Rizwan, who remained not out at 32.
South African stand-in captain Matthew Breetzke acknowledged his team’s struggles, noting that they didn’t score enough runs and aimed for a total closer to 250. He credited Abrar for his skillful bowling that significantly impacted the match.
Looking ahead, Pakistan will start a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, while South Africa will remain in the subcontinent for a two-match Test series against India beginning on Friday.