Abrar Ahmed’s four-fer and Saim Ayub’s third ODI half-century guided Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over South Africa at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. 

The win with 24.5 overs to spare confirms the hosts sealing a 2-1 series victory in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first assignment as ODI captain. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board lauded the performance in their press release and the match report.

After electing to bat first, South Africa got off to a decent start with a 72-run opening wicket partnership between Quinton de Kock (53, 70b, 6x4s, 1×6) and Lhuan-dre-Pretorius (39, 45b, 4x4s, 1×6). Salman Ali Agha (4-0-18-2) removed the latter to break the partnership in the 15th over. Salman then got rid of Tony de Zorzi in the 19th over as the scoreboard read 87-2.

Mohammad Nawaz (9-0-31-2) trapped top-scorer de Kock lbw in the 25th over to trigger a collapse for the visitors when they were 106-3. Just four deliveries later, Abrar clean-bowled the debutant Rubin Hermann for one.

Two overs later, Abrar weaved his magic again, dismissing Donovan Ferreira (7) and Corbin Bosch on consecutive deliveries to leave South Africa reeling on 117-6. Nawaz pitched in with another wicket in the next over as he removed Bjorn Fortuin.

South Africa’s woes deepened when Pakistan saw the back of their skipper Matthew Breetzke in the 34th over, who nicked one off Abrar to Mohammad Rizwan who completed a sharp catch as the scoreboard read 130-8. Skipper Shaheen then cleaned up the tail to bundled South Africa out for 143 in 37.5 overs.

For Pakistan, Abrar spearheaded the attack with his career-best 4-27 in 10 overs. Nawaz, Agha and Shaheen (4.5-0-18-2) chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Pakistan chased the 144-run total in 25.1 overs for the loss of three wickets. Opening batter Saim Ayub anchored the chase with a 70-ball 77 hitting 11 fours and a six.

Saim also knitted a 64-run partnership with Babar Azam (27, 32b, 5x4s) for the second wicket and a 65-run alliance with Mohammad Rizwan (32 not out, 45b, 3x4s, 1×6) for the third wicket.

For the tourists, Nandre Burger (1-29) and Bjorn Fortuin (1-34) picked up one wicket each.

Scores in brief

Pakistan beat South Africa by seven wickets at Iqbal Stadium

South Africa 143 all out, 37.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 53, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 39; Abrar Ahmed 4-27, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-18, Salman Ali Agha 2-18, Mohammad Nawaz 2-31)

Pakistan 144-3, 25.1 overs (Saim Ayub 77, Mohammad Rizwan 32 not out, Babar Azam 27; Nandre Burger 1-29, Bjorn Fortuin 1-34)

Player of the match – Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan)

Player of the series – Quinton de Kock (South Africa).