Pakistan beat South Africa by 36 runs in the third and final One Day International (ODI) at the Wanderers Stadium in Sandton on Sunday leading them to a historic ODI whitewash against the Proteas.
Chasing a target of 309 runs in 47 overs, the South African team surrendered at 271 runs.
Young Pakistani left-arm spinner Sufyan Muqim shined with the ball as he took four wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah took a wicket each. Saim Ayub took one wicket and bowled an economical spell giving away just 34 runs in the ten overs.
Wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klassen showed some resilience with the bat with 81 runs in 43 balls but it proved insufficient as the Proteas suffered their first ever whitewash at the hands of Pakistan. South African debutant Corbin Bush showed some late resistance with his 40-run innings.
Earlier, Pakistani opening batsman Saim Ayub lit up the field with a scintillating century, taking Pakistan to 308/9 against South Africa in the rain-affected final ODI.
The match, which was delayed by rain, was reduced to 47 overs for each side, adding an extra layer of challenge for both teams.
Asked to bat, Pakistan faced early challenges, but Ayub’s powerful knock proved effective in setting up a defensible target.
Shafiq registered his third successive duck of the series, falling for a golden duck on the second delivery of the match.
Babar Azam and Saim Ayub steadied the ship with a lively 114-run partnership for the second wicket.
Babar contributed a measured 52 off 71 balls, including seven boundaries, before he was dismissed by Lotho Mafaka in the 23rd over, leaving Pakistan at 115/2.
Ayub continued to shine, making 101 off 94 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sixes.
This marked his third ODI century and second of the series. Ayub’s dismissal in the 35th over at 208/3 led to a brief collapse, as Kamran Ghulam fell for a golden duck in the next over.
Despite the setbacks, Muhammad Ridwan and Salman Ali Agha maintained the momentum.
Rizwan made his 15th ODI half-century, scoring 53 off 52 balls, while Agha played a crucial knock, smashing 48 runs off 32 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes, before succumbing to his fifty.
Shaheen Afridi became the third batsman in the line-up to be dismissed for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 297/7 in 46 overs.
In the final match, Pakistan lost two more wickets as batsman Tayyab Tahir (28) and Mohammad Hasnain (4) were dismissed by Marco Janssen.
Naseem Shah hit a boundary off his first delivery and took a single off the final ball, helping Pakistan end their innings at 308/9 in 50 overs.
With the ball, Kagiso Rabada led the charge, making 3/56 in his 10-over spell.
He was supported by Bjorn Fortuin and Marco Jansen, who picked up two wickets each, while Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch took one wicket each.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan (w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Hasnain, Sufyan Muqim.
South Africa: Tony De Zorzi, Themba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dusen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaassen (w), David Miller, Marco Janssen, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuyn, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Mafaka.