Pakistan clinch ODI series against South Africa with 2-1 victory

Faisalabad (Web Desk): Pakistan secured the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa with a convincing win in the third and final game at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.

Chasing a target of 144, Pakistan achieved the total with the loss of just three wickets in the 26th over.

Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 32, while Salman Ali Agha finished 5 not out. Saeem Ayub played a remarkable innings, scoring 77 runs with the help of a six and 11 fours. Captain Babar Azam contributed 27 runs, whereas Fakhar Zaman was dismissed without scoring.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first but struggled against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling, managing only 143 runs in 37.5 overs.

Quinton de Kock top-scored with 53, Johan de Pretorius added 39, and both Pieter and Matthew Beresford contributed 16 runs each.

For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed took four wickets, while Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz claimed two wickets apiece.

Pakistan made two changes to the playing XI for the third ODI, bringing in Abrar Ahmed and Haris Rauf in place of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Pakistan had won the first ODI of the series, while South Africa had claimed victory in the second match.

Teams

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Matthew Breetzke (c), Donovan Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Lungi Ngidi.