New Delhi: Pakistan became the first team to inflict a whitewash on South Africa in a ODI bilateral series after beating them by 36 runs (via the DLS method) in the third ODI in Johannesburg.
They won the three-match ODI series 3-0 after claiming victory in the third and final match at the Wanderers Stadium, riding on opener Saim Ayub’s 101-run knock in 94 deliveries.
South Africa won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat and were put under pressure as Ayub smashed 13 boundaries and two sixes, stitching together an 114-run second wicket stand with Babar Azam (52, 71 balls, 7×4).
Ayub then forged a 97-run partnership with skipper Mohammed Rizwan, who scored 52 off 52 balls, with five fours and a six. It set a solid platform for Pakistan to post 308/9 in 47 overs, as rain curtailed the match by three overs per side.
Ayub shines
For South Africa, top pacer Kagiso Rabada was the most successful with 3/56 in 10 overs. The home team were then dismissed for 271 in 42 overs as Ayub was awarded man of the match and adjudged player of the series for two hundreds in the series.
The 22-year-old Ayub had struck scored 109 in the first ODI and was dismissed in the 35th over with Pakistan comfortably placed at 208/3.
South Africa’s chase centred around Heinrich Klaasen’s 81 runs off 43 balls, while Corbin Bosch remained not out on 40 off 44 balls. The home team ran out of course as Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem claimed 4/52 in eight overs.
Pakistan had already taken an unassailable lead after winning the series opener by three wickets and the second match by 81 runs, having lost the three-match T20 series 2-0.
They will now face off in a two-match Test series that starts on Thursday at Centurion. The ODI series victory will be a shot in the arm for Pakistan before hosting the Champions Trophy in Ferbruary-March next year.
Saim Ayub’s century helped Pakistan become the first team to register an ODI bilateral series whitewash in South Africa. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
