ABRAR AND AYUB STAR AS PAKISTAN CRUSH SOUTH AFRICA TO SEAL HISTORIC SERIES WIN
Pakistan claimed their first-ever home ODI series win over South Africa with a dominant seven-wicket victory in the decider at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday.
Legspinner Abrar Ahmed delivered a career-best spell of 4 for 27, triggering a South African collapse to 143 all out in 37.5 overs.
Choosing to bat on a dry pitch backfired badly for the visitors, who never recovered from early breakthroughs by Mohammad Nawaz (2 for 31) and Salman Agha (2 for 18) before Shaheen Afridi wrapped up the tail with 2 for 18.
After an opening stand of 72 between Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock, the innings unravelled.
De Kock’s fluent 53 off 70 balls was the lone resistance, as Abrar’s variations ripped through the middle order. Debutant Rubin Hermann, Donovan Ferreira, and Corbin Bosch were all bowled in quick succession, exposing the Proteas’ vulnerability against quality spin.
Captain Matthew Breetzke’s stubborn 16 couldn’t steady the slide, and South Africa’s final eight wickets fell to spin before Shaheen cleaned up the last two.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase was a formality. Despite Nandre Burger removing Fakhar Zaman with the second ball and Babar Azam run out for 27, young opener Saim Ayub led the way with a superb 77 off 70 balls, steering his side to 144/3 in just 25.1 overs.
The victory sealed a 2–1 series triumph, marking Pakistan’s first over South Africa at home.
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