Pakistan’s cricket team secured a dominant 3-0 ODI series victory against South Africa, capping it off with a thrilling 36-run win in the final ODI at the Wanderers Stadium. Rising star Saim Ayub shone once again, scoring his second century of the series and leading the Green Shirts to another commanding triumph.
Early Breakthroughs for Pakistan
South Africa’s chase started poorly as their captain Temba Bavuma fell cheaply for just eight runs, dismissed by Naseem Shah. The pressure mounted when Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Tony de Zorzi after he managed only 23 runs.
Read: Saim Ayub’s Blazing Century Secures Pakistan’s 10-Wicket Triumph
Rassie van der Dussen played a steady knock of 36 and built partnerships with Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen. However, debutant Sufiyan Muqeem struck immediately, dismissing Markram with his very first delivery. South Africa’s middle order struggled as Saim Ayub’s brilliant fielding sent David Miller back to the pavilion, leaving the hosts at a precarious 123 for 5.
Klaasen’s Fightback
Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa’s standout performer in the series, took charge with a counterattacking innings. His half-century came off just 29 balls, keeping his team’s hopes alive. Klaasen scored a blistering 71 off 42 deliveries, but Shaheen Afridi dismissed him at a critical juncture, halting South Africa’s momentum.
Late contributions from Marco Jansen (25) and Corbin Bosch (40) provided some resistance, but Pakistan’s bowlers held firm. Sufiyan Muqeem claimed four wickets on debut, while Afridi and Naseem took two each, bowling out South Africa for 271 and sealing the clean sweep.
Saim Ayub’s Brilliance
Earlier in the day, Pakistan batted first after rain shortened the match to 47 overs per side. Despite losing Abdullah Shafique for a duck, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam steadied the innings. The pair added 114 runs for the second wicket before Babar fell for 52.
Ayub’s innings was a masterclass in stroke play. He scored 101 off 94 balls, including 13 boundaries and two sixes, and built another crucial partnership of 93 runs with Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed a brisk 53.
South Africa fought back with key wickets in the middle overs, but Agha Salman and Tayyab Tahir added 74 runs for the sixth wicket. Salman’s aggressive 48 off 33 balls and Tahir’s steady 28 pushed Pakistan to a formidable total of 308/9.
Dominant Series Performance
Pakistan’s bowlers excelled throughout the series. In the second ODI, Shaheen Afridi’s four-wicket haul and Kamran Ghulam’s explosive 63 off 32 balls helped Pakistan secure an 81-run victory. Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed also played key roles, ensuring Pakistan’s dominance.
Saim Ayub emerged as the star of the series, amassing 235 runs, including two centuries, and earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.
With this win, Pakistan now turns its focus to the upcoming two-match Test series, starting December 26, aiming to continue their winning streak.
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