Pakistan scripted history by winning the series sweep against South Africa with a 36-run victory in the rain-affected third ODI at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on Sunday night. It is the first time a visiting team has whitewashed South Africa in an ODI series on their home soil.
A Brilliant Show by Saim Ayub
The win was spearheaded by young sensation Saim Ayub, who made his second century of the series and scored 101 runs off 94 balls. With 13 boundaries and two sixes, Ayub’s innings placed him among an elite group of overseas players—Virat Kohli, David Warner, and Fakhar Zaman having scored multiple ODI centuries in South Africa. In this series, Ayub’s performances were such that he bagged the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards with 235 runs and two wickets.
Ayub was well-matched by Babar Azam (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (53), who chipped in with important half-centuries. The three partnerships had set the stage for this total: 114 between the second wicket, and 93 for the third. Pakistan made an imposing 308-9 off 47 overs. For a late flourish, the 48 off 33 balls by Salman Ali Agha propelled Pakistan past the 300-run mark.
Spirited South African Chase Falls Short
South Africa, chasing 309, got off to an impressive start but lost the way as wickets went by regularly. Heinrich Klaasen was rescued with a whirlwind knock of 81 off just 43 balls, crammed with 12 fours and two sixes, during which he shared 71 with Marco Jansen in what turned out to be the decisive stand of their 26 off 22.
Debutant Sufyan Moqim, meanwhile, was the one who stole the show on the ball, taking the figures of 4-52. His left arm wrist spin dismantled the South African middle order, culminating in the prized scalp of Aiden Markram. Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed two wickets each, while Ayub and Mohammad Hasnain accounted for one wicket each.
South Africa’s tail, spearheaded by Corbin Bosch (40* off 44), fought hard for a late-order resistance but came up 36 runs short, as the innings folded in 42 overs at 271.
A Series Victory in History
It’s an achievement of gigantic proportions for Pakistani cricket to win this ODI series. From winning by three wickets at Paarl to an 81-run win at Cape Town, and finally ending with Sunday’s win, Pakistan proved dominant across every facet of the game.
Pakistani skipper Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s efforts, specifically the young players. “Saim Ayub has been phenomenal, and our bowlers were outstanding at the pressure moments,” said Rizwan.
Pakistani team will shift attention to the Test series against South Africa as well, which is due to commence on December 26 in Centurion. With such a history behind them, the team approaches longer formats with confidence.
The series sweep is not just underlining the resurgence of Pakistan in international cricket but also an emergent depth and resilience that puts it in contention with others as a global force in world cricket.
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Salaar Shah