Pakistan Defeats South Africa in ODI Series After T20 Triumph
After winning the T20 series, Pakistan continued their dominance by defeating South Africa in the ODI series as well. However, once again, the Pakistani batsmen turned an easy chase into a nerve-wracking experience for fans, making hearts race before sealing the victory.
Before discussing the match itself, I want to addxress Hasan Nawaz. He’s often called a “generational talent,” and many insist he deserves consistent opportunities. But I don’t understand why he insists on finishing games with flashy, unnecessary shots. When the required run rate is under six an over, there’s simply no need to take such risks. He did the same in the last T20, and again today in the first ODI.
Hasan needs to realize that there’s a long queue of talented players waiting for their chance. In Pakistan, once you’re dropped, it’s never easy to make a comeback. He’s a fine player, but his tendency to play reckless shots at crucial moments shows he hasn’t learned from his past mistakes.
When Babar Azam was dismissed, the pitch was already showing signs of turn, and it seemed the game might slip away. But credit goes to Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, whose brilliant partnership stabilized Pakistan’s innings and guided the team to victory.
This was Pakistan’s fifth consecutive ODI win against South Africa, and their sixth straight win in Faisalabad. In fact, Pakistan hasn’t lost a game in Faisalabad since their last defeat there—against South Africa years ago. Interestingly, in the Tri-Nation Series before the Champions Trophy, Rizwan and Salman Agha both scored centuries against South Africa in Faisalabad, leading Pakistan to victory then as well.
The opening partnership between Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman was impressive today. But when wickets started falling—first at 87, then 102, and then Babar at 105—it looked like Pakistan could stumble. Fortunately, the 91-run stand between Rizwan and Salman Agha turned the tide. Rizwan scored a fine fifty, although he was dismissed while attempting his trademark pick-up shot.
From a bowling perspective, Pakistan performed well too. Naseem Shah was exceptional, taking three wickets for 40 runs in 9.1 overs, including a maiden. He bowled especially well in his second spell, showing great control in the death overs. Abrar Ahmed was expensive early on but recovered well, finishing with three wickets. Saim Ayub contributed with both bat and ball—bowling eight overs for 39 runs and taking two wickets.
Pakistan now has the upper hand in the three-match series. However, Haris Rauf will be unavailable for the next game due to a two-match ICC suspension for an inappropriate gesture during fielding.
South Africa, on the other hand, has looked surprisingly flat. Their only win in the T20 series now seems like a fluke. Quinton de Kock, playing his first ODI since retiring in 2023, returned because poor form in league cricket was affecting his career opportunities. He scored a fifty, but it wasn’t enough. Their captain, Brits, who had earlier made five consecutive 50+ scores in ODIs, managed 42 today before being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan chased 264—its highest successful chase ever in Faisalabad. The previous record was 245 against Zimbabwe in 2008. Interestingly, Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium is a historic ground for Indian cricket as well: Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test fifty here, and MS Dhoni hit his first Test century on this ground. Even Sunil Gavaskar’s only bowling wicket came here—he dismissed Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas.
Fans turned up in large numbers, cheering passionately, especially when Babar Azam walked in after Saim Ayub’s dismissal. Mohammad Rizwan’s form deserves special mention—his batting has arguably been even better than Babar’s recently. He was outstanding in the Pakistan Super League and continues to carry that form into international cricket.
Overall, Pakistan’s combination looks strong against South Africa. The bowling unit is disciplined, and the batting order has depth. However, Pakistan might still need one more specialist bowler in tougher contests, as relying too heavily on all-rounders could be risky.
South Africa’s inexperience has shown—most of their current squad has limited ODI exposure, apart from De Kock and Ngidi. A few young players like Pretorius and Ferreira are promising, but they still have much to learn. Hopefully, these rising talents will develop into stars and continue playing in future Pakistan tours.
In the end, Pakistan’s consistent performance and improved team balance have given them a clear edge in this series.
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