JOHANNESBURG: Saim Ayub smashed a blistering century and debutant Sufiyan Muqeem claimed a four-wicket haul to help Pakistan clinch a thrilling victory against South Africa in the third ODI at The Wanderers Stadium here on Sunday.
Pakistan, under the inspired leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, became the first-ever team to clean-sweep the Proteas in an ODI series in South Africa.
While chasing, South Africa started strongly but ultimately fell short as they bundled for 271 losing the match by 36 runs.
The Proteas faced an early setback with the wicket of captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed after scoring just eight runs, leaving the side reeling at 25-1 in 3.2 overs.
His opening partner Tony de Zorzi started well but he fell prey to a ferocious bouncer from Shaheen Afridi after scoring 26 off 23.
Rassie van der Dussen (35) then knitted two crucial partnerships of 36 and 40 with Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen respectively.
Debutant Sufiyan Muqeem struck with the first ball of his spell, dismissing Markram for 19, while Van der Dussen was removed by Mohammad Hasnain.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
David Miller (3) joined Klaasen but he was quickly dismissed after Mohammad Rizwan took a stunning catch off Saim Ayub.
Klaasen then built a crucial 91-run partnership with Marco Jansen (26) forcing South Africa’s comeback as they took the team’s total to 194.
Klaasen smashed 81 runs from 43 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and two sixes before Shaheen Afridi ended his quick-fire knock.
Debutant Corbin Bosch then played an unbeaten cameo of 40 runs but it was not enough as South Africa were bundled out for 271 in 42 overs.
For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem led the attack with the bowling figures of 4-52, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, in a repeat of the second ODI, Pakistan were invited to bat first, and opening batter Abdullah Shafique walked back in the first over, registering his third consecutive duck.
Babar Azam joined Saim Ayub at the crease; however, they had to rush back due to rain, which resulted in the match being reduced to 47 overs per side.
They resumed their innings after the rain break and built a solid partnership of 114 runs from 133 balls, during which they both reached their individual half-centuries.
Watch Pakistan vs South Africa Live on ARY ZAP
However, Kwena Maphaka broke the stand as he removed Babar, who scored 52 runs from 71 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
Saim was joined by skipper Mohammad Rizwan and they increased the scoring rate with their 93-run stand that conceded only 75 balls.
Saim fell prey to debutant Corbin Bosch right after reaching his century, going back with a quick 101-run knock from 94 balls, laced with 15 boundaries that included two sixes.
Rizwan departed soon after playing a 52-ball knock of 53 runs, which featured five boundaries and one six.
Salman Ali Agha then played a quick-fire knock of 48 runs from 33 balls and added a crucial partnership of 74 runs with Tayyab Tahir (28) before Kagiso Rabada ended his entertaining knock.
Rabada dismissed Shaheen Afridi on the first ball, which Marco Jansen removed Tayyab and Mohammad Hasnain (4) in the last over to restrict Pakistan to 308-9 in the allocated 47 overs.
Rabada led the wicket with three wickets, while Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin claimed two wickets each. Maphaka and Bosch contributed with one wicket each.
READ:Â Pakistan batter proposes unique solution to host matches against India