Mohammad Rizwan’s Pakistan cricket team have become the first-ever side to complete a massive feat in ODI cricket. With their 36-run win (DLS method) in the rain-hit third and final ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Pakistan have become the first team ever to whitewash the Proteas in an ODI series at home.
The visitors had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead after comprehensively winning the first two ODIs last week. This was Pakistan’s fifth successive bilateral ODI series win ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which they will host next year from February 19.
The star of Pakistan’s third ODI win was opener Saim Ayub, who smashed his second hundred of the ODI series against SA. Ayub hit 101 runs in 94 balls as Pakistan scored 308-9 at the Wanderers in a game reduced to 47 overs by rain. South Africa was all out for 271 in 42 overs in pursuit of a winning target of 308.
On the course of the innings, Ayub also surpassed Team India captain Rohit Sharma as the batter with most runs in all formats of the game in 2024. The young Pakistan opener has 1,170 runs in 39 innings while Rohit’s tally stands at 1,142 runs in 38 innings this year.
Rohit will have a couple of innings in the Boxing Day Test vs Australia which starts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) later this week to surpass Ayub once again.
WINNERS
3⃣ ODI series triumphs on the trot for Pakistan #SAvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/B4dMDlpRnY
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 22, 2024
Pakistan batted first after losing the toss and was 1-1 when it lost Abdullah Shafique in the first over. The innings took off with Ayub involved in two key stands — 114 runs for the second wicket with Babar Azam (52 in 71), and 93 runs for the third with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53 in 52).
The 22-year-old Ayub, who scored 109 in the first ODI, was caught behind against debutant Corbin Bosch. Ayub hit two sixes and 13 fours. Middle-order batter Salman Agha padded the total with a 33-ball 48.
South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada took 3/56. In reply, Heinrich Klaasen top scored for the hosts with 81 runs in 43 balls, and Bosch finished 40 not out. Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem took 4/52 in eight overs.
Pakistan had already secured the one-day international series, winning the opener by three wickets and the second ODI by 81 runs. South Africa won the three-match Twenty20 series 2-0. The teams will play two Tests, starting on Thursday at Centurion.
Pakistan’s fifth successive bilateral ODI series win puts it in good stead for the Champions Trophy it will host in February.
Babar Azam’s impressive 52-run knock came to an end, and gave a platform for skipper Mohammad Rizwan to build on, hitting the ground running with 53 off 52 and forming a resilient 93-run stand with Ayub. Ayub’s scintillating third ODI century was cut short when Corbin Bosch’s clever delivery forced an edge to Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps, with late contributions from Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir lifted Pakistan to a competitive total of 308/9.
Despite a quick start in reply, racing to 24/0 in the first three overs, Pakistan struck through quick Naseem Shah, as Temba Bavuma picked out Saim at point. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen set about in a rebuild following the loss of Tony de Zorzi (26), only for Markram to fall as one of Sufiyan Muqeem’s four wickets.
