Pakistan started the series with a victory by defeating South Africa by 3 wickets in the first ODI.
In the first ODI, the Pakistan team achieved South Africa’s target of 240 runs after losing 7 wickets on the third ball of the last over after a thrilling contest.
The highlight of Pakistan’s batting was Saim Ayub’s 109 runs, which he scored off 119 balls with 3 sixes and 10 fours.
Salman Agha played an unbeaten inning of 82 runs for the national team and was also awarded the Man of the Match award, while Babar Azam scored 23 runs.
In the match played in Paarl, the national team’s first wicket fell for 2 runs while chasing a relatively easy target. Abdullah Shafiq returned to the pavilion without scoring a run. Marco Janssen dismissed him.
Pakistani batsmen appeared to be playing under a defensive strategy, with Saim Ayub and Babar Azam sharing a 44-run partnership, however, Babar Azam was caught out by Bartman after scoring 23 runs off 38 balls.
National team captain Muhammad Rizwan was the guest of only one run, Bartman also bowled him for a total of 52.
The fourth batsman to be dismissed was Kamran Ghulam, who scored 4 runs. However, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha batted responsibly for the fifth wicket and put together 141 runs for the team to put the match away from South Africa.
Saim Ayub scored his first ODI century off 112 balls. He scored 109 runs and was dismissed for a total of 201. His innings included 10 fours and 3 sixes.
As soon as opening batsman Saim Ayub was dismissed, Irfan Khan, who had scored one run, returned to the pavilion without opening his account on a total of 203 and Shaheen Afridi on 209.
South Africa’s batting
Earlier, South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan and scored 239 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
South Africa got off to a good start with both their openers playing aggressively. The home team lost their first wicket for 70 runs when Salman Ali Agha dismissed Tony de Roerzi lbw. He scored 33 runs.
Salman Ali Agha then dismissed three more players for a total of 88, not only depriving South Africa of 4 wickets but also slowing down the home team’s run-scoring pace.
Salman bowled out Ryan Rickelton who scored 36 runs, Russ Vanderdussen who scored 8 runs, and Tristan Stubbs who scored one run.
In such a situation, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram tried to pull the team out of difficulties and move towards a big total by building a partnership of 73 runs.
Markram was caught out after scoring 35 runs off the ball of Saim Ayub. However, Klaasen continued the mission of scoring runs along with Marco Jansen.
However, Abrar Ahmed broke the dangerous partnership by getting Yansen, who had scored 10 runs, caught on the boundary. The two added 50 runs for the sixth wicket.
Then, on a total of 214, Abrar Ahmed also got Andile Phikhloklovu out. He was a guest of one run.
South Africa suffered their 8th loss by 218 runs. Shaheen Afridi clean-bowled Klaasen, who had scored 86 runs, shattering his dream of a century.
Then Kagiso Rabada and Othniel Baartman added 21 runs to take their team to a total of 239. Where Rabada, who scored 11 runs off the last ball, was run out.
For Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha took 4 wickets. Abrar Ahmed took 2 wickets, while Saim Ayub and Shaheen Afridi took one wicket each.
Playing XIs
The national team is led by Muhammad Rizwan. Other players include Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.
The South African team is led by Aiden Markram. While other players include Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Russ van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Janssen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, and Otniel Baartman.
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