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Pakistan opener Saim Ayub led his team to a 36-run victory over South Africa in the third ODI at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday. This victory not only ensured Pakistan a clean sweep of the three-match series but also marked South Africa’s first home ODI whitewash in a bilateral series. The match, affected by rain and reduced to 47 overs a side, saw Pakistan post a formidable total of 308 for 9, thanks to Ayub’s stellar century and important contributions from his teammates.
Saim Ayub shines with a spectacular century
Ayub’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. The 22-year-old left-handed batsman scored 101 runs off just 94 balls, marking his second century of the series and third in five innings. His knock included 13 fours and two sixes, demonstrating his ability to dominate the South African bowling attack. Ayub formed crucial partnerships, including a 114-run stand with Babar Azam (52) and a 93-run partnership with Mohamed Rizwan (53), which laid a solid foundation for Pakistan’s innings. His remarkable form has been the highlight of the series as he earlier scored 109 in the opening game and an unbeaten 98 in the second T20I.
Ayub, for his outstanding streak, was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
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South Africa’s struggles with willow continue
On the other hand, South Africa’s batting line-up struggled to find consistency throughout the series. Heinrich Klaasen He was the hosts’ standout player, scoring a spirited 81 off 43 balls, but lacked support from his teammates. The Proteas managed to reach just 271 for 42 runs, falling short by 36 runs despite a promising start. His batting woes stood out even more in the first match. Tony de ZorziSouth Africa’s performance is below average, leaving South Africa with many questions to answer ahead of the upcoming international matches.
Sufiyan Muqeem’s bowling brilliance on debut
debutante wristband Sufi muqeem He was another key player for Pakistan, taking four wickets for 52 runs in his eight overs. His ability to exploit South Africa’s weaknesses against spin bowling raised concerns about his batting depth and adaptability. With figures of 1 for 34 in his ten overs, Ayub also contributed significantly with the ball, demonstrating his all-round capabilities.
This series win is particularly significant for Pakistan as it marks their fifth consecutive victory in a bilateral series after previous successes against New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe. Under the leadership of captain Rizwan, Pakistan have shown remarkable resilience and depth in their team. The team’s ability to recover from early setbacks during matches has become a defining characteristic of its style of play this season.
Also READ: South Africa’s Heinrich Klassen fined for kicking stumps during 2nd ODI against Pakistan
