Pakistan beat South Africa by seven wickets at Iqbal Stadium on Saturday. PHOTO: PCB
Abrar Ahmed’s four-fer and Saim Ayub’s third ODI half-century guided Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over South Africa on the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
The win with 24.5 overs to spare confirms the hosts sealing a 2-1 sequence victory in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first project as ODI captain.
The Pakistan Cricket Board lauded the efficiency of their press launch and the match report.
After electing to bat first, South Africa acquired off to an honest begin 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) eliminated the latter to interrupt the partnership within the fifteenth over. Salman then removed Tony de Zorzi within the nineteenth over because the scoreboard learn 87-2.
Mohammad Nawaz (9-0-31-2) trapped top-scorer de Kock lbw within the twenty fifth over to set off a collapse for the guests after they have been 106-3. Simply 4 deliveries later, Abrar clean-bowled the debutant Rubin Hermann for one.
Two overs later, Abrar weaved his magic once more, dismissing Donovan Ferreira (7) and Corbin Bosch on consecutive deliveries to depart South Africa reeling on 117-6. Nawaz pitched in with one other wicket within the subsequent over as he eliminated Bjorn Fortuin.
South Africa’s woes deepened when Pakistan noticed the again of their skipper Matthew Breetzke within the thirty fourth over, who nicked one off Abrar to Mohammad Rizwan who accomplished a pointy catch because the scoreboard learn 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 assault together 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 whole in 25.1 overs for the lack of three wickets. Opening batter Saim Ayub anchored the chase with a 70-ball 77 hitting 11 fours and a six.
Saim additionally 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 vacationers, Nandre Burger (1-29) and Bjorn Fortuin (1-34) picked up one wicket every.
Scores briefly
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)
Participant of the match – Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan)
Participant of the sequence – Quinton de Kock (South Africa).
