Saim Ayub’s Century and Salman Agha’s Heroics Lead Pakistan to a Thrilling Win Over South Africa

Pakistan kicked off their ODI series against South Africa with a nail-biting three-wicket victory in Paarl on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Powered by Saim Ayub’s brilliant century and Salman Agha’s all-round performance, Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite moments of tension, the visitors showed grit and composure to chase down a target of 240 in the final over.

South Africa’s Strong Start and Agha’s Game-Changing Spell

Opting to bat first, South Africa began their innings on a positive note, with openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton adding 70 runs within the first 10 overs. The pair’s aggressive approach put Pakistan on the back foot early on. However, the introduction of Salman Agha turned the game around for Pakistan.

Agha’s deceptive arm balls dismissed both De Zorzi and Rickelton in quick succession, halting South Africa’s momentum. The middle-order collapse continued as Agha sent Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs back to the pavilion in the same over. From 70/0, South Africa found themselves reeling at 88/4.

Klaasen and Markram’s Fightback

Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram steadied the innings with a crucial 73-run partnership. Klaasen’s powerful strokes and Markram’s measured play brought some stability to the innings. However, Saim Ayub struck at a crucial moment, dismissing Markram with a top-edged pull.

Klaasen continued his fight, crafting a well-paced 86 off 68 balls. His partnership with Marco Jansen added valuable runs, but Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Afridi cleaned up the lower order. South Africa finished their innings at 239/9, a total that seemed competitive but not out of reach for Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Rocky Start in the Chase

Chasing 240, Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start. Marco Jansen bowled Abdullah Shafique for a duck, and Babar Azam’s uncharacteristically slow innings ended at 23. With Kamran Ghulam run out, Pakistan were in deep trouble at 60/4 in the 20th over.

Ayub and Agha Turn the Tide

Saim Ayub and Salman Agha formed a match-winning partnership, adding 141 runs for the fifth wicket. Ayub initially played a cautious knock but shifted gears after reaching his half-century. His calculated aggression included two sixes in a single over off Ottneil Baartman and a flurry of boundaries off Kagiso Rabada. Ayub’s second ODI century came off 112 balls, showcasing his growing maturity as a player.

At the other end, Agha played a steady and composed knock. He rotated the strike effectively and accelerated when needed, bringing up his fifty with a six off Tabraiz Shamsi.

A Tense Finish

The partnership ended when Rabada dismissed Ayub for 109, sparking a mini-collapse. Pakistan lost three quick wickets, and the chase became tense with 28 runs needed off 30 balls. However, Agha held his nerve, hitting a crucial six off Shamsi and finding gaps to ease the pressure. With three deliveries to spare, Agha struck the winning boundary, finishing unbeaten on 82 and guiding Pakistan to a memorable win.

Match Summary

• South Africa: 239/9 in 50 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 86, Ryan Rickelton 36; Salman Agha 4-32, Abrar Ahmed 2-32)
• Pakistan: 242/7 in 49.3 overs (Saim Ayub 109, Salman Agha 82*; Kagiso Rabada 2-48, Ottneil Baartman 2-37)

Conclusion

This victory highlighted Pakistan’s resilience and the team’s ability to perform under pressure. Ayub’s second ODI century and Agha’s brilliant all-round display proved to be the difference-makers. As Pakistan leads the series 1-0, fans are looking forward to more thrilling contests in the upcoming matches.

Stay tuned for updates on the Pakistan-South Africa series!

Refernce from:-https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/132819/aghas-all-round-heroics-ayub-ton-help-pakistan-go-1-0-up