Pakistan achieved the impossible by becoming the first team to whitewash South Africa in a bilateral ODI series on South African soil, winning by 36 runs in a rain-affected match at the Wanderers. This victory sealed a dominant series for Pakistan and furthered their preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Saim Ayub Shines with Bat and Ball
Saim Ayub was the man of the match for Pakistan, whose all-round skills with bat and ball came to the forefront. He scored his second century of the series with 101 runs and also shared the wickets with 1 for 34 in the match. Half-centuries from Babar Azam (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (53) helped Pakistan get a competitive total of 308/9 in 47 overs.
South Africa’s batting woes continued
The bright light for South Africa was Heinrich Klaasen, who put away 81 runs off just 43 balls. Alas, he was very much outgunned by the rest of his teammates on the field. Klaasen ended up scoring the highest in the series with a batting average of 88, but these runs proved insufficient to orchestrate an effective chase. Corbin Bosch adds 40 off 44 balls on debut, though the lower order crumble under pressure, and South Africa ends up with only 271 runs in 42 overs.
Debutant Sufiyan Muqeem Stars with the Ball
Debutant wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was the backbone of Pakistan’s bowling. He took 4 for 52, creating a lot of pressure on South Africa’s middle order, especially against spin. Shaheen Afridi (2/70) and Naseem Shah (2/63) also played important roles in restricting South Africa to a total that never really threatened Pakistan’s competitive score.
Pakistan’s Impressive Batting Effort
After the match was reduced to 47 overs per side due to rain, Pakistan faced early setbacks, including losing Abdullah Shafique for a duck, but quickly recovered. Babar Azam and Ayub stabilized the innings,as they shared crucial partnerships. Ayub’s quick-fire 50 off 54 balls set the stage for a dominant 114-run stand with Babar and a subsequent 93-run partnership with Rizwan. Despite a few mini-collapses, Pakistan’s lower order, including Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir, added quick runs, pushing the total past 300.
South Africa’s Struggles with the Ball
The bowling by South Africa could not make early breaks. Kagiso Rabada troubled the Pakistani openers with some fine deliveries, yet he could not produce the breakthrough. Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markram bowled economically. It was not enough, as the flow of runs remained unbroken. Marco Jansen, one of the seamers, also had a costly day in front of Bosch and Kwena Maphaka’s expense, who could hardly prevent the Pakistanis’ batting in the middle overs.
A Tough Run Chase for South Africa
Chasing a revised target of 308, South Africa began well, scoring 24 off three overs, but key wickets kept their progress in check. Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi were early casualties, leaving Klaasen to do all the hard work. Klaasen fought well, reaching his half-century off just 29 balls, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Muqeem’s over claimed the wickets of Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen. Ayub also had his fielding anticipation in a very crucial catch from David Miller.
South Africa’s Tough Road Ahead
South Africa’s chase went down the drain despite Klaasen’s best efforts, and Pakistan’s bowlers, led by four wickets from Muqeem, sealed the win. The loss left South Africa with many questions to answer, especially regarding their batting performance. With injuries to key players and a lack of depth in their batting line-up, they will need to regroup quickly ahead of the Test series starting December 26.
Pakistan, on the other hand, celebrated a historic 3-0 series win and extended their streak of bilateral series victories to five, including triumphs over New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe. The focus now shifts to the Test series, where Pakistan will look to carry their momentum forward.
