1st ODI
Salman Agha’s all-round heroics and Saim Ayub’s ton has helped the Pakistan team to take a 1-0 lead
South Africa scored 239/9 in 50 overs, where as Pakistan scored 242/7 in 49.3 overs.
So, finally Pakistan beat South Africa by 3 wickets.
A well-paced century from Saim Ayub and an all-round performance from Salman Agha helped Pakistan secure a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa in the opening ODI in Paarl on Tuesday (December 17).
Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with 86, while three other South African batters crossed 30.
However, South Africa lost wickets in clusters twice and were restricted to 239/9, with Agha and Abrar Ahmed doing the bulk of the damage.
Pakistan faced early setbacks in the chase, but Ayub’s 109 and Agha’s partnership brought them back on track.
There were tense moments towards the end as Pakistan lost quick wickets, but Agha’s calmness under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 82, guided Pakistan to victory with three balls to spare.
Marco Jansen delivered an early blow, dismissing Abdullah Shafique without scoring.
The South African bowlers, led by Jansen, kept Pakistan in check, as his first five overs went for just 17 runs.
With only five fours hit in the first 10 overs, Pakistan was 32/1 at the end of the first powerplay.
The surface was sticky, and Pakistan’s innings stalled at 45/1 after 14 overs.
Babar Azam fell for 23 off 38, edging a delivery from Ottneil Baartman, who also dismissed Mohammad Rizwan in his next over.
Kamran Ghulam was run out, and Pakistan found themselves struggling at 60/4 in the 20th over.
Ayub, initially cautious, began to find the boundaries and brought up a 72-ball fifty.
Agha played a supporting role, accumulating singles and twos.
The required rate crossed 6 as Pakistan reached 112/4 after 30 overs.
Pakistan then began to accelerate.
A 20-run over from Baartman, which included two sixes from Ayub, took him into the 80s and brought Pakistan past 150 in the 35th over.
Agha reached his fifty off 61 balls with a six off Tabraiz Shamsi.
Ayub followed up with two fours and a six off Rabada, who was playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup.
The six helped Ayub bring up his second ODI century off 112 balls, reducing Pakistan’s target to 45 in the final 10 overs.
South Africa, through Rabada, added some drama to the contest.
Ayub, attempting a pull shot, was caught at fine leg, ending a 141-run partnership.
Irfan Khan then fell to Rabada, and Pakistan’s hopes were dimming as Shamsi dismissed Shaheen Afridi for a duck.
With 28 needed off 30 balls, South Africa tightened the pressure, with Jansen conceding just 2 runs in the 46th over.
Agha relieved the pressure with a crucial six off Shamsi, followed by a streaky boundary off Jansen.
In the 49th over, bowled by Baartman, Agha managed six singles, and then struck the winning boundary off the third ball of the final over from Jansen.
Earlier, opting to bat, South Africa made a strong start, with the openers adding 70 runs in the first 10 overs.
Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton struck regular boundaries off Afridi and Naseem Shah, prompting Pakistan to introduce spin after seven overs.
Agha turned the tide dramatically with two arm balls, trapping De Zorzi and Rickelton in front.
Agha then bowled out Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs in the same over, leaving South Africa at 88/4.
Klaasen and Markram mounted a fightback, with Klaasen bringing up a 68-ball fifty.
Klaasen’s measured knock included some key boundaries, and Markram played the supporting role, adding a four off Afridi.
The fifth-wicket pair added 73 before Ayub dismissed Markram, who top-edged a pull shot.
Klaasen and Jansen then put on a 50-run partnership, with Klaasen continuing his steady progress.
However, Jansen’s attempted loft off Abrar led to his dismissal, and Phehlukwayo fell to Abrar soon after.
Klaasen was then bowled by Afridi, leaving South Africa at 218/8 in the 45th over.
Rabada and Baartman added some useful runs, but South Africa fell short of posting a competitive total.
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