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Pakistan defeated South Africa by 36 runs in the third and final one-day international (ODI) at Wanderers Stadium in Sandton on Sunday, securing a historic 3-0 series whitewash against the Proteas.
Set a target of 309 runs in 47 overs, South Africa was bowled out for 271 runs.
Pakistan’s young left-arm leg spinner, Sufiyan Muqeem, was the standout performer with the ball, claiming four wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah supported with two wickets each, while Saim Ayub also contributed with the ball, taking one wicket and giving away just 34 runs in his 10 overs.
Wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen fought valiantly for South Africa, smashing 81 runs off 43 balls, but it wasn’t enough to prevent South Africa from suffering the whitewash. South African debutant Corbin Bosch also added some late resistance with a knock of 40 runs.
Earlier, opening batter Saim Ayub lit up the stadium with a scintillating century, guiding Pakistan to 308/9 against South Africa in a rain-affected final OCI clash.
Saim Ayub was also awarded the Player of the Series award for his two brilliant hundreds in the three match series.
The match, delayed due to rain, was reduced to 47 overs per side, adding an extra layer of challenge for both teams.
After being asked to bat, Pakistan faced early challenges, but Ayub’s commanding knock proved instrumental in building a defendable target.
Babar Azam and Saim Ayub steadied the ship with a vital 114-run partnership for the second wicket.
Babar contributed a measured 52 off 71 balls, including seven boundaries, before being dismissed by Lutho Maphaka in the 23rd over, leaving Pakistan at 115/2.
Ayub continued to shine, crafting a brilliant 101 off 94 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sixes. Ayub’s dismissal in the 35th over at 208/3 triggered a brief collapse, with Kamran Ghulam falling for a golden duck in the very next over.
Despite the setbacks, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha kept the momentum alive. Rizwan notched his 15th ODI half-century, scoring 53 off 52 balls, while Agha played a crucial knock, smashing 48 runs off 32 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes, before falling just short of a fifty.
Naseem Shah struck a boundary off his very first delivery and took a single off the final ball, helping Pakistan finish their innings at 308/9 in 50 overs.
With the ball, Kagiso Rabada led the attack, taking 3/56 in his 10-over spell.
He was supported by Bjorn Fortuin and Marco Jansen, who picked up two wickets each, while Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch claimed one wicket apiece.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Sufiyan Muqeem
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka
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