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Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed hammer South Africa as Pakistan clinch ODI series

Aakash Saini

Saim Ayub in action against South Africa [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]Saim Ayub in action against South Africa [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]

Pakistan bulldozed South Africa in a one-sided affair to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1. Young opener Saim Ayub notched up his second successive half-century of the series, after ace spinner Abrar Ahmed recorded his career-best ODI figures.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the third ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa, as it panned out at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday, November 8.

Abrar Ahmed and Salman Agha humble South Africa

South Africa won the toss, opted to bat first, and bundled out for just 143 in 37.5 overs despite starting off with a 72-run opening partnership between young Lhuan-dre Pretorius (39 off 45) and lone half-centurion Quinton de Kock (53 off 70). Pakistan's Salman Agha and fellow spinners Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz steamrolled the rest of the visitor’s line-up, considering no other South African batter, barring the openers, managed to breach the 20-run mark.

Salman started off Pakistan’s onslaught with the first two wickets, while Abrar snared four to record his career-best ODI figures of 4-27. Nawaz also clipped two before Shaheen Afridi (2-18) mopped up the South Africa tail.

Saim Ayub decimates South Africa in series decider

Defending just 144 for a win, South African quick Nandre Burger knocked over Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman in just the second ball of the innings. Babar Azam at number three struck five boundaries to get off a splendid start, before an unfortunate run out halted his confident stay at 27 off 32 balls.

Young Saim Ayub, however, raged on and belted 77 runs from 70 balls with 11 fours and a six to tonk his second successive fifty this series. Mohammad Rizwan also made 32* off 45 balls, and remained unbeaten at the crease alongside all-rounder Salman Agha (5* off 2) to steer Pakistan to a convincing seven-wicket win with nearly 25 overs intact.