Guest User-442311 - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2025Thanks to Salman Ali Agha fighting innings in the fine over, Pakistan defeated South Africa by two wickets in the first ODI played in Faisalabad. Batting first, South Africa was all out for 263 in 49.1 overs. Pakistan achieved this target with eight wickets in hand with two balls to spare.
For South Africa, Quinton de Kock scored 63 runs off 71 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. Luhan de Pretorius scored 57 runs off 60 balls with the help of seven fours and one six. For Pakistan, Salman scored 62 runs off 71 balls with the help of five fours and one six. Mohammad Rizwan also scored a half-century, scoring 55 runs off 74 balls with the help of six fours.
South Africa had a low target to defend and therefore did not give the Pakistani batsmen many opportunities to score runs from the start. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub batted cautiously, adding 87 runs for the first wicket. Ayub was dismissed by Donovan Ferreira for 39 runs off 42 balls. Fakhar was also dismissed by Ferreira, leaving the total at 102. He scored 45 runs off 57 balls, including four fours and a six. Babar Azam once again failed, scoring only seven runs. Rizwan and Salman then added 91 runs for the fourth wicket. Corbin Bosch dealt Pakistan a major blow by dismissing Rizwan. Salman was then joined by Hussain Talat, who scored 22 runs off 25 balls. However, Pakistan found themselves in trouble again when Lungi Ngidi dismissed Talat. Nagidi then dismissed Salman, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
Pakistan needed 12 runs to win from the last two overs. Mohammad Nawaz (9) and captain Shahin Shah Afridi (4 not out) combined to ensure victory. With this win, Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
South Africa failed to capitalize on the steady start provided by de Kock and Pretorius. Once they were out, wickets fell at regular intervals. Pretorius was dismissed Ayub A at 98. Naseem Shah dismissed de Kock at 141. From there, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed took over. Tony de Giorgi became Ayub's second wicket. Captain Matthew Bretzke tried to hold the team together with a 42-run knock but fell to Abrar Ahmed's spin.
The team also lost the wickets of Sinethemba Kishile (22), Donovan Ferreira (3), and George Linde (2). Naseem dismissed Lizaad Williams to end South Africa's innings. Naseem and Abrar each took three wickets, while ayub khan took two. Shahin Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz each took one wicket.
