Islamabad, Dec 18: Saim Ayub’s sensational second ODI century, combined with Salman Ali Agha’s career-best all-round display, propelled Pakistan to a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa in the opening match of the three-game ODI series on Tuesday night at Boland Park, Paarl.
Chasing a target of 240 runs, Pakistan secured the win with three balls to spare. Salman, who delivered a remarkable unbeaten 82 off 90 balls, featuring four boundaries and two sixes, sealed the chase with a boundary. His unbeaten 33-run partnership off 30 balls with Naseem Shah (9 not out from 17 balls) for the eighth wicket was instrumental in the victory.
Saim showcased his class, following up his unbeaten 98 in the second T20I with a scintillating 109 off 119 balls, adorned with 10 fours and three sixes. He anchored the innings for 41.2 overs before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, ensuring South Africa’s bowlers faced constant pressure.
Salman had earlier triggered a South African batting collapse, taking four wickets within 23 balls and conceding only 18 runs. He joined Saim at the crease in the 20th over when Pakistan was struggling at 60-4. Together, they stitched a pivotal 141-run partnership for the fifth wicket in just 133 balls, reigniting Pakistan’s hopes.
Needing 107 runs off the final 96 balls, Saim unleashed a brutal attack on Ottneil Baartman, hammering two sixes and a four in the 35th over to score 22 runs. He brought up his century in the 40th over, striking Rabada for a four and a six, leaving Pakistan needing 45 off the last 10 overs, which they achieved in 49.3 overs despite losing three more wickets. Baartman and Rabada claimed two wickets each for South Africa.
Earlier, South Africa, led by stand-in skipper Aiden Markram, opted to bat first. Openers Ryan Rickelton (36 off 38 balls, 7 fours) and Tony de Zorzi (33 off 25 balls, 6 fours) put together a solid 70-run partnership. Salman, introduced in the eighth over, struck in the 10th over to trap de Zorzi lbw. He then dismissed Rickelton in the 12th over and cleaned up both Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs in the 14th, reducing South Africa to 88-4.
Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with a gritty 86 off 97 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, while Markram contributed 35. Their 73-run fifth-wicket partnership steadied the innings before Markram was dismissed by Saim in the 32nd over. Klaasen, along with Marco Jansen, added 50 for the sixth wicket to push South Africa past 200. Abrar Ahmed struck twice in quick succession, removing Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo, while Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Klaasen in the 45th over, restricting South Africa to 239-9 in their 50 overs.
Scores in brief:
1st ODI – Pakistan defeated South Africa by three wickets at Boland Park, Paarl.
South Africa: 239-9 in 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 in 49.3 overs (Saim Ayub 109, Salman Ali Agha 82 not out, Babar Azam 23; Ottneil Baartman 2-37, Kagiso Rabada 2-48).
