Pakistan 308 for 9 (Ayub 101, Rizwan 53, Babar 52) bowled South Africa 271 (Klaasen 81, Bosch 40*, Muqeem 4-52) by 36 runs (DLS)
The defeat means South Africa have won just one ODI series out of three this year, having also lost to Afghanistan in Sharjah, and two ODI series out of six under the white-ball coach Rob Walter, who took charge in February 2023, on the other hand, secured a fifth consecutive bilateral series victory after defeating New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia and Zimbabwe.
After opting to bowl first in cloudy conditions, South Africa were unable to maximize their chances, although Kagiso Rabada beat the lead several times early on and then struggled with his discipline later. Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markam bowled 13 overs of spin between them at a collective economy of 5.6 overs, but the seamers were costly. Marco Jansen’s nine overs cost 58 runs while Bosch and Kwena Maphaka, in his second ODI and first on his home ground, bowled 15 overs between them for 119 runs and took a wicket each.
Things started well for South Africa when Abdullah Shafique edged Rabada at second to record his third consecutive duck of the series. All of Shafique’s dismissals took place, something South Africa will remember ahead of next week’s Test. Play continued for only 17 more deliveries before rain kept the players off the field for an hour and a quarter.
Pakistan could have lost 14 balls to Babar after the restart, when he clipped Jansen at point. Fortuin jumped to his right but put his hands in the wrong position and missed the opportunity. Babar was on 10 and it would take time for him to find his rhythm. Instead, it was Ayub who took on South Africa with two drives to Rabada in the ‘v’ and then two shots to Jansen to end the Powerplay with Pakistan on 42 for 1.
Maphaka was costly in his first over which lasted just two overs and cost 17 runs, but Bosch immediately showed his potential with deliveries in excess of 140 kmph. Ayub placed one of his deliveries on his box but no major damage was done and he collected 50 off 54 balls. Maphaka came back from the other end and initially Babar had the better of him, but the 18-year-old had the last word. He hit Babar on the lower hand and then tempted him with a short ball which Babar sent straight to David Miller and short to mid-wicket. This year will be the first since Babar made his debut in 2015 that he will not score an ODI hundred.
Pakistan were 115 for 2 after 23 overs and added just six runs in the next three overs as Fortuin led the squeeze. The pressure was released when Ayub smoked Maphaka through the covers, fine long leg in 18 runs. The runs continued to come in boundaries for Ayub and he hit four fours and a six in the next seven balls to gallop into the 90s. He reached his century off 91 balls, in the 34th over, with Pakistan on 199 for 2.
Ayub became Bosch’s first international wicket when he gloved it to Klaasen, but left them in a good position. By then, Rizwan was on 45 off 44 balls and joined by the big-hitting Kamran Ghulam. He couldn’t repeat his antics from Newlands, where he smashed a 32-ball 63, but tried. He sliced Fortuin well above his cover and was caught by Temba Bavuma.
Rizwan got to 50 off 48 balls but then edged Fortuin at third to give him a second. Fortuin was one of two bowlers to bowl 10 overs and finished with 2 for 56. Rabada was the other and struck late in his final spell when he removed Salman and Shaheen Shah Afridi in successive deliveries to take 3 for 56. South Africa took four wickets. in five balls for five runs to prevent some big shots from being fruitful in the end, but Salman and Tayyab had already done significant damage. They hit five fours and three sixes during their time together.
Pakistan’s innings was delayed by 15 minutes and interrupted by rain after 3.1 overs. The 75-minute break meant the match was reduced to 47 overs per team. Pakistan were 10 for 1 when the rain started and South Africa’s target was adjusted, so they had to chase down 308. At 212 for 7 it looked like it was just mathematics, but the 40 and Bosch’s run-a-ball stand of 38 and 21 for the eighth and ninth wickets kept them there. They were bowled out for 271 in 42 overs.
It was always going to be a tough ride but South Africa’s response started strong and they were 24 after three overs before Bavuma bowled Naseem Shah to Ayub at that point. This is the second time in the series that Bavuma has removed his right hand from the handle while playing a shot, which could worry South Africa ahead of the Test. Bavuma has only just returned to fitness after a left elbow injury.
Zorzi’s Tony looked dangerous on the drive and jumper but was bounced out by Afridi. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen took South Africa to 15 overs of 80 for 2 before Markram gifted his wicket to Muqeem’s first ball. Markram hit a short, dirty ball straight to mid-wicket to leave South Africa in trouble before enough overs had even been bowled to call it a match.
Klaasen came in in light rain and the DLS par score of 136 in 20 overs weighed on him and got to work. He faced Muqeem, who played too flat and too short, but van der Dussen’s dismissal on the penultimate ball of the 20th over sent South Africa back. Van der Dussen was out against Mohammad Hasnain for 35, making it his 10th innings completed without an ODI half-century.
David Miller might have been South Africa’s last hope, but Rizwan anticipated his sweep of Ayub and was ready to make up ground in a leg-slip position. South Africa were 123 for 5 and even Klaasen’s one hand couldn’t get them across the finishing line. He reached fifty off 29 balls, smashed Afridi for four fours in an over and 10 runs off three balls in his next over before hitting him to deep square leg and virtually ending South Africa’s fight. Bosch proved his worth as a lower-order batter, but lacked partners to bowl the overs. Rabada and Maphaka were dismissed in successive balls to give Muqeem his four-fer and South Africa plenty of questions ahead of the Champions Trophy.
