Thrills spread in the low-scoring match. It was not clear who would win the sudden color change match. Although Pakistan was ahead in Boland Park in Pearl, South Africa was not giving up. In the end Pakistan won after a fierce fight. And the hero of their victory is spin all-rounder Salman Agha.
Saeb Ayub made the opening act by scoring a century. But he could not leave the field after winning. After taking 4 wickets, Salman played an innings of 82 runs and gave the team a taste of victory in the first ODI. Batting first, South Africa scored 239 runs for 9 wickets. In reply, Pakistan secured a 3-wicket victory with just 3 balls to spare.
Chasing the target, Pakistan lost 4 wickets for 60 runs. Abdullah Shafiq was out for nil, Babar Azam for 23, Rizwan for 1 and Kamran Ghulam for just 4 runs. Sayem and Salman rescued the group in danger. The duo not only saved the team by putting up a 141-run partnership but also took the team to victory. At this time, Sayem took the second century of his career. A few days ago, he played an innings of 113 runs against Zimbabwe. Scored 109 runs yesterday. He finished the innings with 10 fours and 3 sixes off 119 balls.
The course of the match began to change when Syme got out, 39 runs away from victory. Pakistan quickly lost 3 more wickets. The pressure on Salman on the other end is increasing. But the right-handed batsman did not lose heart. In the end, he fought and left the field after winning the team. Played the innings of 82 runs off 90 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Earlier, South Africa had a good start to the innings after winning the toss and batting. The two opening batsmen Tony Di Georgi and Ryan Rickelton made a partnership of 70 runs. They handled the two pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nasim Shah very easily with the new ball. In search of wickets, Pakistan brought in Salman Agha to bowl as the third bowler. His one spell changed the scenario. 10, 12 and 14; The offspinner picked up 4 wickets in three consecutive overs. After breaking the opening pair for 70 runs, the four Protea batsmen did not add 18 runs.
Start with Tony. LBW for 33 runs. In the next over Rickelton was bowled for 36 runs. Two new batsmen Raisi von der Dusen (8) and Tristan Stubbs (1) returned to the dressing room in one over. Pakistan came back in a big way by picking up 4 wickets quickly. Captain Aiden Markram and Henrik Klaasen put up resistance in the fifth wicket. The two batsmen continued to move forward. Their pair advanced in singles-doubles without taking additional risks.
When the regular bowlers failed, the part-time bowlers succeeded. Sayem Ayyub came to the bowling and stopped Markram. Kamran Ghulam, who scored 35 runs off 54 balls, was caught by the Protea captain. From there, Klassen’s solo fight began. None of the subsequent batsmen could help him.
After fifty he was moving towards century. If you see three figures in great batting, you will get completeness. But Afridi stopped him in the 45th over. A great fuller length ball inside and bowled Klassen. Klassen scored 86 runs in 97 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. In the end, Kagiso Rabada’s 11 and Otneil Bartman’s 10 runs gave South Africa a moderate capital.
Apart from Salman Agar’s 4 wickets, Abrar Ahmed took 2 wickets. Afridi and Sayem got 1 wicket each.
Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a 3-wicket win. The second ODI will be played in Cape Town on December 19.