Pakistan’s opening batter Sami Ayub (77) led the hosts to a 2-1 series victory over South Africa, helping them secure their first-ever One Day International series win over the Proteas on home soil.
Chasing 144 runs to win in 50 overs, Pakistan had a relatively simple task on Saturday. Apart from Fakhar Zaman losing his wicket in the opening over of the run chase, there were no real troubles for the hosts, who cruised to the total with relative ease at the Iqbal Stadium. The 23-year-old Ayub led from the front, scoring 77 off 70 deliveries to guide Pakistan to a sparkling victory for a budding Pakistan unit.
After a spectacular batting collapse, the Proteas men’s batting unit folded to 143 all out in the third and series-deciding One Day International at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. With the series level at one-all, the Proteas needed a strong start after winning the toss and opting to bat first in the third ODI.
Going into the innings, the Proteas batters were in good form, with Quinton de Kock, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke having excelled in subcontinent conditions. Breetzke spoke about putting runs on the board after winning the toss; however, only the opening pair could put together a meaningful partnership as Pakistan’s wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed produced the bowling performance of his career.
De Kock and Pretorius, as they had done throughout the series, started well, finding the boundary with relative ease until the 19-year-old left-hander Pretorius was sent back to the pavilion. The youngster was undone by the off-spin of Salman Agha in the 15th over, with over 70 runs on the board, handing the hosts their first scalp of the day.
From there on in, it was an all-Pakistan show, as spinners Ahmed, Agha and Mohammad Nawaz ripped through the Proteas batting unit, with fast bowler and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi playing a helpful hand. The Proteas went from 72/1 to 143 all out, adding only 71 runs for the remaining nine wickets, courtesy of wrist-spinner Ahmed’s four-wicket haul.
With such a low total on the board, the Proteas were on the verge of losing their first One Day International series in Pakistan, having maintained a clean ODI series record in subcontinent conditions for many years. With the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Sami Ayub, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in fine form in front of their home support, South Africa’s proud record was in serious jeopardy.
