FAISALABAD: Pakistan triumphed over South Africa by seven wickets in the third ODI, securing a 1-2 series win.
The match, held at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, was the series decider, with the first two matches having ended in a win for each team.
South Africa, after winning the toss, opted to bat first. However, their decision backfired as they were dismissed for just 143 runs in 37 overs. Quinton de Kock top-scored for the visitors with 53 runs, while Johan de Plessis contributed 39 runs. The rest of the batting lineup struggled, with Peter and Matthew Breetzke adding 16 runs each.
Pakistan’s bowlers were exceptional, with Abrar Ahmed leading the attack with 4 wickets. Shaheen Afridi, Salman Agha, and Mohammad Nawaz all chipped in with 2 wickets apiece, ensuring South Africa’s batting collapse.
In reply, Pakistan chased down the target of 144 runs comfortably in just 26 overs, losing 3 wickets along the way. Saim Ayub played a stellar innings, scoring 77 runs, while Babar Azam contributed 27 runs. Mohammad Rizwan added 32 runs, and Salman Agha remained unbeaten on 5, guiding Pakistan to victory.
The series began with Pakistan edging out South Africa by 2 wickets in a thrilling encounter. South Africa then leveled the series with an 8-wicket win in the second ODI. Pakistan’s dominant performance in the third match gave them a well-earned 1-2 series win, providing a positive conclusion to a hard-fought contest.
