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FAISALABAD: Abrar Ahmed took a four-wicket haul and Saim Ayub struck a fluent half-century to power Pakistan to a dominant seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third ODI at Iqbal Stadium on Saturday, sealing the series 2-1.
Chasing a modest 144-run target, Pakistan wrapped up the game in just 25.1 overs, cruising to victory with 149 balls to spare.
The start, however, was anything but ideal for the hosts as Fakhar Zaman departed for a two-ball duck, undone by Nandre Burger.
But Saim Ayub and Babar Azam joined hands to steady the innings with a fluent 65-run partnership that swung the momentum Pakistan’s way. Babar looked set before a mix-up cost him his wicket, run out for 27 off 32 balls.
Saim was joined by Mohammad Rizwan, and they stitched another 65-run stand that virtually ended South Africa’s hopes.
Saim played a sparkling 77-run knock from 70 balls, laced with eleven boundaries and a towering six. He eventually fell to Bjorn Fortuin with Pakistan just 14 runs away from the target.
Rizwan remained unbeaten on 32, while Salman Ali Agha’s brief cameo (5* off 2) wrapped up the chase.
Earlier, South Africa’s decision to bat first backfired despite a promising start, as the visitors were bundled for 143 in 37.5 overs against Pakistan’s attack.
Openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock laid the platform with a 72-run stand, punishing the new ball early on.
Pretorius looked in fine touch before Salman Ali Agha provided the breakthrough, dismissing him for a well-made 39 off 45 balls, decorated with four boundaries and a six.
De Kock held firm to notch up a composed 53 off 70 deliveries, but found little support from the middle order.
Once Mohammad Nawaz removed the South African wicketkeeper-batter in the 25th over, the innings unravelled dramatically.
From 106 for two, the Proteas collapsed in stunning fashion, losing their last eight wickets for just 37 runs.
Besides the openers, only captain Matthew Breetzke (16) and Nqabayomzi Peter (16) managed double figures for the visitors.
Abrar Ahmed was the chief destroyer, spinning a web around the opposition to claim 4 for 27 in his 10-over spell, his best figures in ODIs.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with two wickets apiece.
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