- Saim Ayub (109) struck his second century in last three ODIs
- Salman Ali Agha starred with career best bowling (4-32) and batting (82 not out) figures in ODIs
Paarl, 18 December 2024: Saim Ayub’s masterful second ODI century and Salman Ali Agha’s career best all-round performance powered Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets in the opening fixture of the three-match ODI series on Tuesday night here at the Boland Park in Paarl.
Pakistan chased the 240-run target with three balls to spare and as many wickets in the bag while Salman, who remained unbeaten for a terrific 90-ball 82 inclusive of four fours and two sixes, sealed the chase with a boundary. He had also put on a crucial undefeated 33-run partnership off 30 balls with Naseem Shah (9 not out, 17b) for the eighth wicket as well.
Saim, who remained on the crease for 41.2 overs before falling to Kagiso Rabada, backed up his 98 not out in the second T20I with a blistering 119-ball 109 laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes and ensured South Africa kept toiling.
Salman, who had earlier inflicted a batting collapse on South Africa taking first four wickets in a space of 23 balls and 18 runs, joined Saim in the middle in the 20th over when Pakistan were reeling at 60-4. They carved a mammoth 141-run stand for the fifth wicket taking 133 balls to bring Pakistan back in the game.
Pakistan required 107 runs off 96 balls when Saim launched an assault on Ottneil Baartman hitting two consecutive sixes and a four to ransack 22 runs off the 35th over. He hit Rabada for a four and a six in the 40th over to bring up his century off 112 balls with the equation down to 45 needed off last 10 overs, which was achieved in 49.3 overs and a further loss of three wickets.
Baartman and Rabada picked up two wickets each.
Earlier, South Africa’s stand-in skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat first after which the opening duo Ryan Rickelton (36, 38b, 7x4s) and Tony de Zorzi (33, 25b, 6x4s) put on a solid 70-run partnership hitting 13 boundaries.
Salman, who was introduced to the attack in the eighth over, struck on the penultimate ball of the PowerPlay to pin de Zorzi leg-before. He returned to dismiss Rickelton in the 12th over and then castled Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs in a space of four balls in the 14th over to leave South Africa 88-4.
Heinrich Klaasen, who top-scored with a 97-ball 86 including seven fours and two sixes, partnered with Markram (35, 54b, 1x4) to stage a rescue act with a 73-run fifth-wicket stand off 107 balls. After Markram fell to Saim in the 32nd over with scorecard reading 161-5, Klaasen and Jansen joined forces to take South Africa above 200-run mark with a 50-run sixth-wicket stand, which was broken by Abrar Ahmed in 42nd over and an over later dismissed Andile Phehlukwayo too to reduce South Africa to 214-7.
Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in 45th over to remove Klaasen and stem South Africa’s progress as they managed 239-9 in the allotted 50 overs.
Scores in brief
1st ODI – Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets at the Boland Park, Paarl
South Africa 239-9, 50 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 86, Ryan Rickelton 36, Aiden Markram 35, Tony de Zorzi 33; Salman Ali Agha 4-32, Abrar Ahmed 2-32)
Pakistan 242-7, 49.3 overs (Saim Ayub 109, Salman Ali Agha 82 not out, Babar Azam 23; Ottneil Baartman 2-37, Kagiso Rabada 2-48)
Player of the match – Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
