Salman Agha Stars As Shaheen Afridi Kick Offs ODI Captaincy With Pakistan's 5th Straight Win Over South Africa

A full-strength Pakistan defeated a determined South Africa by two wickets in their ODI series opener on Tuesday, marking the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after a 17-year hiatus.

Pakistan’s tailenders held on to reach 264-8 in the final over, as an inexperienced South Africa fought valiantly, claiming four wickets in the last five overs and pushing the home team to the limit.

Pakistan Vs South Africa: 1st ODI – Highlights

How Pakistan Beat South Africa?

South Africa, which lost its sixth consecutive toss across formats on its Pakistan tour, couldn’t capitalise on half-centuries from debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) and Quinton de Kock (63) before being bowled out for 263 in 49.1 overs.

Top-scorer Salman Ali Agha (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (55) had Pakistan cruising

at 196-3 in the 39th over before the team nearly stumbled in what seemed to be a straightforward run-chase.

Rizwan smashed a half-century in his first ODI after being removed from the captaincy, replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi. He shared a 91-run stand with Agha to put the chase back on track. Rizwan and Agha expertly read the slow wicket, rotating the strike with singles and twos after Pakistan lost three wickets in the span of 18 runs.

The left-handed opening pair of Fakhar Zaman (45) and Saim Ayub (39) combined for an 87-run partnership against a second-string South African pace attack, as the Proteas rested key fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen for the three-match series.

Off-spinner Donovan Ferreira, one of three South African debutants, slowed the chase with the pitch offering plenty of assistance to spinners. Ferreira removed both openers in successive overs: Ayub was adjudged plumb leg-before-wicket while attempting to cut, and Zaman holed out at long-on while attempting a big shot.

Babar Azam, whose half-century helped Pakistan clinch the T20 series in Lahore last Saturday, lasted only 12 balls before he was lbw to left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin’s delivery, which skidded into the right-hander and struck him low on the pads.

Rizwan and Agha then dug in, rotating the strike. Rizwan dominated the spinners with his trademark strong sweep shots before holing out to deep mid-wicket off Corbin Bosch’s short ball, mistiming the pull shot.

Agha and Hussain Talat (22) added 44 runs, with Agha completing his half-century with a straight six. South Africa made a stunning comeback when Lungi Ngidi deceived Talat with a slower ball, and George Linde took a low catch at mid-off.

With the wicket assisting spinners, captain Matthew Breetzke kept on spinners from one end in the death overs, as Linde had Hasan Nawaz stumped. Pakistan needed a run-a-ball off the final two overs, but Agha was brilliantly caught by Ferreira at long-on.

With the scores tied, Mohammad Nawaz got a leading edge off Bosch’s short ball in the final over before Naseem Shah ran a leg bye to take Pakistan home with two balls to spare.

De Kock, returning from ODI retirement after two years, and Pretorius put up a strong opening stand of 98 runs off 96 balls, batting aggressively against the pace before South Africa lost its way in the latter half of the innings, losing the last seven wickets for 72 runs.

Pretorius found early momentum, striking well square of the wicket and playing brilliant shots down the ground, completing his half-century off 47 balls with seven boundaries and a six.

Pakistan turned to its spinners, with Saim Ayub making an immediate impact by luring Pretorius to drive and getting him caught at point. De Kock shifted gears and raised his 31st ODI half-century off 50 balls but chopped Naseem Shah’s ball back onto his stumps in the 25th over.

South Africa lost its way thereafter when Ayub got a leading edge off Tony de Zorzi’s (18) bat and held onto a head-high return catch.

Debutant batter Sinethemba Qeshile (22) showed promise, striking three boundaries and combining in a 44-run stand with Breetzke before Pakistan’s spinners ran through the middle-order.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed (3-53) almost got a hat-trick when he dismissed Ferreira and Fortuin off successive deliveries. Ngidi was declared lbw off Ahmed’s hat-trick ball, bringing the home crowd to its feet, only to see the batter successfully review, showing a big inside edge.

Bosch then made a quickfire 41 off 40 balls with six fours, pushing South Africa to a total that nearly secured a win in the first game of the three-match series.

(With inputs from Agencies)