Pakistan Team Create History vs SA: The end of the ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan was historic for Mohammad Rizwan’s team, the team on the African tour made a clean sweep of 3-0, which was never seen before. South Africa, which first participated in an official ODI series in 1991, had never suffered such a humiliating defeat at home. His first home series was against India in 1992. However, Rizwan’s team maintained its momentum even after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. In the final ODI in Johannesburg, Pakistan once again produced an all-round performance to write their name in the history books.
In the third ODI, Pakistan won the historic clean sweep series by defeating South Africa by 36 runs, thanks to a brilliant century by left-handed batsman Sam Ayub and brilliant bowling by spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first. Continuing his impressive form in international cricket, especially in ODIs, Ayub scored his second century of the series (101 off 94 balls, 13 fours and two sixes), along with four other wicket-takers. Scored 34 runs.
Pakistan, who came to bat, had a bad start as opener Abdullah Shafiq was out on his very first ball. Sam and ICC’s top-ranked ODI batsman Babar Azam handled the innings and made a brilliant partnership of 115 runs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan got a chance to move forward after Babar’s brilliant innings of 52 runs in 71 balls with the help of seven fours. He scored 53 runs (five fours and one six) in 52 balls and made a strong partnership of 93 runs with Ayub.
Ayub’s brilliant third ODI century was broken when a clever ball by Corbin Bosch caught Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps. Salman Agha (48 runs from 33 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes) and Tayyab Tahir (28 runs with the help of two fours and one six from 24 balls) contributed in the last moments to take Pakistan to a competitive score of 308/9. Delivered. Kagiso Rabada (3 wickets for 56 runs in 10 overs) was the top bowler for the Proteas. Marco Jensen and Bjorn Fortuin also took two wickets each.
Despite a quick start in reply, after reaching 24/0 in the first three overs, Pakistan lost Naseem Shah (2/63) while Temba Bavuma (8) dismissed Sam at point. After the dismissal of Tony De Zorzi (26 off 23 balls, two fours and two sixes), Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen (35 off 52 balls, four fours and a six) again took over the innings, but Markram ( 19 from 26 balls, three fours) was dismissed as one of Muqim’s four wickets.
After the dismissals of Rassie and David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (81 off 43 balls, 12 fours and two sixes) continued to steady the ship for the Proteas by scoring his third consecutive half-century and sharing a 71-run partnership with Marco Jensen, which helped First Shaheen (2/70) dismissed the in-form right-handed batsman. Mookim (4/52 in eight overs) also dismissed the counter-attacking Jensen (26 off 23 balls with two fours and two sixes), and then bowled out the Proteas’ tail-enders for 271 in 42 overs. Completed the victory. Ayub won the ‘Player of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Series’ awards.
