Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024. First ODI between Pakistan and South Africa. Venue of the match will be Paarl.
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With a spectacular century from the Pakistan opener to help secure a dramatic victory over South Africa in the first ODI in Paarl, Saim Ayub’s magical first season reached new heights. He established a 141-run partnership with Salman Agha, whose all-round contribution started with a four-wicket haul and culminated in an undefeated 82 as he maintained composure in a tense late stand with Naseem Shah to get Pakistan over the finish line with three balls and as many wickets to spare.
He took charge of a game that appeared hopeless when Pakistan lost four early in a chase of 240. Pakistan’s poor pursuit of what should have been a poor first-innings performance from South Africa made all of this seem like a world away. First up, Marco Jansen used a pearler to clean up Abdullah Shafique, swinging it back in to remove any stumps. Ottneil Baartman, who started with two maiden overs, lured Babar Azam into a mistake that went right to the cover fielder, and Azam choked through for a turgid 23 that does nothing to ease worries about his own form.
It was quickly followed by the removal of skipper Muhammad Rizwan from the pads, and when Kamran Ghulam went for a run that Ayub was not interested in, a frightened Pakistan was in a kind enough mood to give South Africa another wicket. The visitors were at 60 for 4 in the 20th over, and the Ayub-Agha combination was their final genuine chance at an improbable victory because of Pakistan’s large tail and Irfan Khan’s ongoing teething issue. When Agha nicked it to Aiden Markram on six, Heinrich Klaasen had a fast opportunity to put South Africa out of the game.
Pakistan slowly, and first indiscernibly, started to re-enter the game. Ayub started to find frequent singles and doubles as well as the occasional boundary after previously scraping to 31 off 57 in an uncommon manner. Perhaps Agha is most suited for that sort of job because, despite his lack of natural power hitting ability, he has the cunning to squeeze out runs. The partnership grew gradually as South Africa’s fielding quality and intensity declined, finally squeezing past 50 and then easily surpassing three digits.
By this point, Ayub had established the flare for which he is naturally recognized, and he turned the tables on Baartman, whose numbers up to that point had been 5-2-9-2. Before Ayub hit Rabada for a spectacular six over midwicket to reach his second ODI hundred in three innings, two sixes and two fours pushed the asking rate back down to less than a run per delivery. However, there was an unavoidable danger with a long tail. After playing with fire, Ayub helped it reach the fine-leg and deep-third boundaries before holing out to the latter.
Sensing his chance, Kagiso Rabada pulled out Irfan four deliveries later, and South Africa closed the gap against Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi was easily defeated by Tabraiz Shamsi, but Naseem and Agha realized the asking rate was under control and proceeded to carefully finish the final few runs. Agha showed the grit that has distinguished him since he so successfully assimilated into the squad, despite the occasional fury. In order to limit the asking rate, he chose his time and slapped Shamsi over the top for a six.
When Agha pushed Jansen back down the ground to complete the victory, there was still time for a spectacular climax, and toward the end, Pakistan just needed singles. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling display earlier in the day saw them hold South Africa to 239 for 9 at Paarl. After the hosts got off to a fast start and quickly fell from 70 for 0 in 10 overs to 88 for 4, Agha’s part-time offspin swept through the South African top and middle order.
Heinrich Klaasen was left to ensure that his team’s bowling attack had something noteworthy to defend, sacrificing his full-on aggression for a useful knock of 86 off 97. Agha’s rise to fame as a bowler came as a shock and as abruptly. In the first powerplay, openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton were cruising at nearly seven runs per over, easily defeating Shaheen and Naseem’s opening spell without seeming to take any chances. Although Rizwan may have just included Agha in the attack to slow down the momentum, it was a wise move.
South Africa’s batting lineup and their advantageous position were destroyed in four overs. There was no need for a review; it all started when Agha got one to slide into de Zorzi and trap him in front. Agha would keep his best for last, but Rickleton cut one off from him in his next over. Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs played for a turn that wasn’t there and heard their off-stump being hit back because the new batters were now unable to read him off the pitch or out of the hand.
Sensing that spin was gaining unexpected traction here, Rizwan sent the entire cavalry. Abrar Ahmed quickly gained momentum, and Ayub and Ghulam took turns. However, Markram and Klaasen were gradually regaining control from Pakistan, slogging through the middle overs in the hopes of holding out before making a dramatic comeback at the end. However, they were aware that the innings was being played without a safety harness on a tightrope, and they were knocked off it by an Ayub long hop error from Markram.
It was up to Klaasen to make the most of what remained as Jansen struggled mightily throughout his innings. Additionally, Pakistan’s seamers were at their most disciplined and energetic. The Jansen-Klaasen stand reached 50, but Jansen had only managed to get 10 off 27 and only did so because Haris Rauf put down a huge dolly. Shaheen also earned a wicket, but Klaasen attempted to keep pounding away and would have merited a sixth ODI hundred.
The rattling could have been the last nail in the coffin for the hosts’ innings, as it came via a beauty, seaming in and smashing back Klaasen’s middle stump. By that point, Pakistan had done most of the damage via Agha, but Kagiso Rabada and Ottniel Baartman limped along for the final few overs, contributing 21 for the ninth wicket. Together with Ayub, they would ensure that the task was completed in a match that they controlled so well that Agha would ask Ayub to remove him from the Player of the Match award.
