FAISALABAD: The crowd at Iqbal Stadium witnessed a commanding performance by Pakistan as they sealed a seven-wicket victory over South Africa, clinching the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 their first-ever home series triumph against the Proteas.
In this regard, the Fans, eager for a Babar Azam masterclass, erupted in chants of “Babar” as the star batter walked in early following Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal.
The home hero did not disappoint, delighting the Faisalabad faithful with his elegant stroke play before being run out for 27 off 24 balls, decorated with five boundaries.
The departure silenced the crowd briefly, but rising star Saim Ayub soon cooked the stadium’s energy with a brilliant 77 off 70 deliveries, guiding Pakistan to a comfortable chase of 144.
Furthermore, Ayub’s innings, featuring 11 fours and a six, ensured Pakistan stayed on course after Babar’s exit. Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 32 and Salman Ali Agha’s composed finish capped with the winning boundary wrapped up the contest with more than 24 overs to spare.
Moreover, Pakistan’s spinners laid the foundation for victory, dismantling South Africa for just 143 in 37.5 overs.
After opting to bat, the visitors appeared steady with openers Quinton de Kock (53) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (39) sharing a 72-run stand.
In this sense, Salman struck twice to break the opening partnership, Nawaz trapped De Kock leg-before shortly after his half-century, and Abrar ran through the middle order with a devastating spell of 4-27 his career-best figures in ODIs.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-18) cleaned up the tail, capping off a dominant bowling performance.
So far, South Africa’s stand-in skipper Matthew Breetzke admitted his side had fallen short.
Pakistan not only secured a historic home series victory over South Africa but also showcased the promise of their new leadership and emerging talent a confident stride forward for the team’s future.
