Saim Ayub led Pakistan to a historic One-Day International (ODI) series sweep against South Africa, showcasing remarkable performances including two centuries that solidified his rising status in international cricket.
On Sunday night, Pakistan secured a thrilling 36-run victory in the third and final ODI at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium. The rain-hit contest, reduced to 47 overs per side, saw Pakistan set an imposing target of 309. South Africa faltered in their chase, bowled out for 271 in 42 overs, handing Pakistan a clean 3-0 series win.
The hero of the series, Saim Ayub, delivered yet another exceptional innings, scoring 101 off 94 balls—his second century of the series. Supported by half-centuries from captain Mohammad Rizwan (53 off 52 balls) and Babar Azam (52 off 71 balls), Saim orchestrated Pakistan’s innings after an early setback, losing Abdullah Shafique for a golden duck in the opening over.
Babar and Saim combined for a vital 114-run partnership that stabilized Pakistan’s innings before Babar fell to Kwena Maphaka. Saim then built a quick 93-run stand with Rizwan, bringing up his third ODI century in just nine matches. Late fireworks from Salman Ali Agha (48 off 33 balls) and Tayyab Tahir (28 off 24 balls) pushed Pakistan to 308-9.
South Africa’s bowlers struggled to contain Pakistan’s batting, with Kagiso Rabada being the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-56. Bjorn Fortuin and Marco Jansen chipped in with two wickets each, but their efforts were overshadowed by Pakistan’s dominant batting display.
In response, South Africa’s chase got off to a shaky start. Naseem Shah struck early, dismissing captain Temba Bavuma in the fourth over. Shaheen Afridi followed, removing Tony de Zorzi for a brisk 26. Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim, making his debut, turned the game on its head with a stunning performance, claiming 4-52. His scalps included Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen, further denting South Africa’s hopes.
Middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen provided some resistance with a blistering 81 off 43 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes. He formed a brief but impactful 71-run stand with Jansen before falling to Shaheen Afridi. Lower-order batter Corbin Bosch tried to rally the tail, remaining unbeaten on 40, but ran out of partners as the hosts fell short by 36 runs.
Pakistan’s bowlers combined effectively to seal the victory, with Naseem and Shaheen claiming two wickets each, while Mohammad Hasnain and Saim Ayub chipped in with one apiece. Saim’s all-round contributions, including a tidy bowling spell of 1-34 in 10 overs, earned him accolades as the standout performer of the match and the series.
The historic series win marked Pakistan’s first ODI whitewash over South Africa on their home soil. With Saim Ayub emerging as a new star and the bowling unit delivering under pressure, Pakistan set a strong precedent as they prepare for the upcoming Test series.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 308-9 (Saim Ayub 101, Mohammad Rizwan 53, Babar Azam 52; Kagiso Rabada 3-56)
South Africa: 271 all out (Heinrich Klaasen 81, Corbin Bosch 40 not out; Sufyan Moqim 4-52)
The teams will next face off in a two-match Test series starting December 26.