In a nail-biting contest, Pakistan emerged victorious by 3 wickets with just 3 balls to spare, chasing down a challenging target of 240 set by South Africa. The match, played under a cloud of excitement and tension, was a perfect example of the unpredictable nature of limited-overs cricket, with both teams showcasing moments of brilliance and some slip-ups along the way. In this article we will discuss the full match details of Sa vs Pak 1st Odi.
South Africa’s Innings : Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
South Africa’s batting innings saw an array of performances, with the key contribution coming from the seasoned Heinrich Klaasen, who top-scored with 86 runs from 97 balls. He anchored the South African innings, but the lack of support from other batters ultimately left them with a total that proved to be a few runs short. Klaasen’s composed knock included 7 boundaries and 2 sixes, but his departure in the 45th over, falling to Shaheen Afridi, marked the beginning of South Africa’s collapse.
The South African top-order did make starts, with players like T. de Zorzi (33), R. Rickelton (36), and A. Markram (35) getting starts but failing to convert them into big scores. This inconsistency proved costly as Pakistan’s bowlers, led by the brilliant Salman Ali Agha (4/32) and Shaheen Afridi (1/46), kept picking wickets at crucial intervals.
Key Performances from South Africa’s Batting:
- Heinrich Klaasen (86 from 97 balls): A composed knock with 7 fours and 2 sixes kept South Africa’s hopes alive.
- R. Rickelton (36 from 38 balls): A steady start but was dismissed by Salman Ali Agha.
- T. de Zorzi (33 from 25 balls): Quick runs at the top, but was dismissed by Salman Ali Agha.
Pakistan’s Bowling Performance : Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
Salman Ali Agha was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for just 32 runs from 8 overs. His accuracy in the middle overs restricted South Africa’s run flow and was instrumental in the collapse. Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed provided crucial breakthroughs as well, with Afridi claiming the key scalp of Klaasen. Ahmed’s 2/32 was also significant in breaking partnerships and pushing South Africa towards a total that was slightly below par.
South Africa’s Batting Summary:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | SR | Dismissal |
| T. de Zorzi | 33 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 132.00 | lbw b Salman Ali Agha |
| R. Rickelton | 36 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 94.74 | b Salman Ali Agha |
| R. van der Dussen | 8 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 | b Salman Ali Agha |
| A. Markram (C) | 35 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 64.81 | c Kamran Ghulam b Saim Ayub |
| T. Stubbs | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | b Salman Ali Agha |
| H. Klaasen (WK) | 86 | 97 | 7 | 2 | 88.66 | b Shaheen Afridi |
| M. Jansen | 10 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 37.04 | c Shaheen Afridi b Abrar Ahmed |
| A. Phehlukwayo | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 | c Saim Ayub b Abrar Ahmed |
| K. Rabada | 11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 | run out (Irfan Khan Niazi) |
| O. Baartman | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 | not out |
| Extras | 8 | (W 4, B 4) |
Fall of wickets: Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
- 70/1 (T. de Zorzi, 9.5 ov)
- 73/2 (R. Rickelton, 11.1 ov)
- 86/3 (R. van der Dussen, 13.1 ov)
- 88/4 (T. Stubbs, 13.4 ov)
- 161/5 (A. Markram, 31.3 ov)
- 211/6 (M. Jansen, 41.4 ov)
- 214/7 (A. Phehlukwayo, 43.1 ov)
- 218/8 (H. Klaasen, 44.3 ov)
- 239/9 (K. Rabada, 49.6 ov)
Pakistan’s Chase : Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
Pakistan’s chase started on a shaky note, with early wickets falling quickly. Fakhar Zaman (who did not bat) and Babar Azam (23 from 38 balls) could not stabilize the innings, and Pakistan found themselves struggling at 60/4. However, it was the brilliant knock by Saim Ayub (109 from 119 balls) that turned the game around for Pakistan. Ayub played a match-winning knock, leading the charge with a combination of solid defense and aggressive stroke play. His innings, which included 10 boundaries and 3 sixes, was a crucial factor in keeping Pakistan in the hunt.
Ayub’s partnership with Salman Ali Agha, who remained not out on 82 from 90 balls, formed the backbone of Pakistan’s successful chase. Agha’s steady knock ensured that Pakistan maintained their scoring rate despite losing wickets at the other end.
Key Performances from Pakistan’s Batting: Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
- Saim Ayub (109 from 119 balls): A match-winning century with 10 fours and 3 sixes, anchored the chase.
- Salman Ali Agha (82 from 90 balls): A calm and steady knock under pressure.
- Babar Azam (23 from 38 balls): Contributed with a start but could not go on to score big.
South Africa’s Bowling Performance : Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
Kagiso Rabada and Ottniel Baartman were the primary wicket-takers for South Africa, with both claiming two wickets each. Rabada’s 2/48 and Baartman’s 2/37 kept South Africa in the game for a long time, but their efforts ultimately fell short in defending a moderate total.
Pakistan’s Batting Summary:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | SR | Dismissal |
| S. Ayub | 109 | 119 | 10 | 3 | 91.60 | c Tabraiz Shamsi b Kagiso Rabada |
| A. Shafique | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | b Marco Jansen |
| B. Azam | 23 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 60.53 | c Marco Jansen b Ottniel Baartman |
| M. Rizwan (C) (WK) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 | b Ottniel Baartman |
| K. Ghulam | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 | run out (Tristan Stubbs) |
| S. Agha | 82 | 90 | 4 | 2 | 91.11 | not out |
| I. Khan | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c & b Kagiso Rabada |
| S. Afridi | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | b Tabraiz Shamsi |
| N. Shah | 9 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 52.94 | not out |
| Extras | 13 | (W 12, LB 1) |
Fall of wickets: Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
- 2/1 (A. Shafique, 1.4 ov)
- 46/2 (B. Azam, 14.3 ov)
- 52/3 (M. Rizwan, 16.1 ov)
- 60/4 (K. Ghulam, 19.1 ov)
- 201/5 (S. Ayub, 41.2 ov)
- 203/6 (I. Khan, 41.6 ov)
- 209/7 (S. Afridi, 44.3 ov)
Conclusion
This match was a perfect display of high-pressure cricket where both teams had their moments, but in the end, Pakistan’s resilience, led by Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha, ensured they chased down the total with just 3 balls to spare. South Africa, despite some strong individual performances, could not finish off the game and fell short by a narrow margin.
The match ended with Pakistan on 242/7 in 49.3 overs, winning by 3 wickets and securing a thrilling finish.
FAQs : Sa vs Pak 1st Odi
1. Who won the match between South Africa and Pakistan?
- Pakistan won by 3 wickets with 3 balls to spare, chasing down South Africa’s total of 239/9.
2. Who was the top scorer for South Africa?
- Heinrich Klaasen was the top scorer for South Africa, making 86 runs off 97 balls.
3. Who were the standout bowlers for Pakistan?
- Salman Ali Agha was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking 4 wickets for 32 runs. Shaheen Afridi also contributed with 1 wicket for 46 runs.
4. What was Saim Ayub’s contribution to Pakistan’s victory?
- Saim Ayub played a match-winning knock, scoring 109 runs off 119 balls, guiding Pakistan through the chase.
5. What was the key moment in the match?
- The key moment was Saim Ayub’s century, which anchored Pakistan’s chase and helped them overcome the target with just 3 balls to spare.