KEY POINTS
- Pakistan comfortably chased down 144 runs in just 25.1 overs.
- Abrar Ahmed led the bowling attack with 4 wickets for 27 runs.
- Saim Ayub scored a match-winning 77 runs off 70 balls.
- Babar Azam, reached 15,000 international runs, contributed 27 runs before being dismissed.
FAISALABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan wrapped up the three-match ODI series against South Africa in emphatic fashion on Saturday, securing a 7-wicket victory in the third and final ODI at Iqbal Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 144 runs, the home team comfortably reached the target in just 25.1 overs, with 149 balls to spare, to seal the series 2-1.
South Africa opted to bat first, struggled throughout their innings, managing only 143 runs before being bowled out in 37.5 overs.
The South African innings was defined by a middle-order collapse, with Abrar Ahmed leading the charge for Pakistan with a brilliant 4-wicket haul for just 27 runs.
He was well-supported by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz, who took two wickets each.
Quinton de Kock (53) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (39) were the only notable contributors for South Africa, as they found themselves bundled out for a paltry total.
The rest of the batting lineup crumbled, with Abrar and Afridi particularly devastating in the second half of the innings.
In reply, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman early for a duck, but Saim Ayub played a match-winning knock, top-scoring with 77 runs off 70 balls, including 11 fours and a six.
Babar Azam, who had crossed the 15,000-run mark in international cricket, was dismissed for 27 before the partnership between Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan (32*) ensured Pakistan’s easy victory.
Pakistan reached 144/3 in 25.1 overs, with Salman Agha (5*) providing the final flourish.
The victory was achieved with 149 balls to spare, sealing the series win and further consolidating Pakistan’s dominance in the format.
With the series now in their hands, Pakistan will look to build on this victory as they continue their preparations for future challenges in international cricket, taking on Sri Lanka and later in tri tri-series involving Zimbabwe.
