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With less than two months to go into ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa by 47 runs (DLS method) in third ODI to complete cleansweep. Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan became the first team in ODI history to beat South Africa in a bilateral series at home. Saim Ayub starred with his second century in the series as Pakistan once again dominate the series and Heinrich Klaasen was the only batter who put up a fight.
Ayub starts well, Babar scores fifty
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first. Kagiso Rabada dismissed Abdullah Shafique for a golden duck. This is Shafique's third duck in a row. In the fourth over, rain interrupted play. The ODI was reduced to 47 overs per side. Babar Azam's catch was dropped early by Bjorn Fortuin off Marco Jansen's bowling. After a cautious start, Ayub accelerated. In the 17th over, he reached his fifty from 54 balls. Babar shifted gears too and reached his fifty from 64 deliveries. The partnership was broken by young Kwena Maphaka in the 23rd over. Babar scored 52 runs from 71 balls including seven fours.
Another ton for Ayub, captain scores fifty
Ayub did not let South African bowlers struggled and dealt in boundaries. In the 34th over, he reached his third ODI century from just 91 balls. In the 35th over, Corbin Bosch made Ayub his maiden ODI wicket. The opener's 94-ball 101 was laced with 13 fours and a couple of sixes. Kamran Ghulam failed to make a mark as he was dismissed for a golden duck by Fortuin. Meanwhile, Rizwan reached his fifty from 50 balls. Fortuin struck again to send Pakistan skipper packing. The wicketkeeper-batter hit five fours and a six in his 52-ball 53.
Tahir, Agha get Pakistan past 300
Tayyab Tahir and Salman Agha launched a brutal onslaught in the slog overs. They used the bounce in the pitch and the short boundaries at The Wnaderers Stadium, Johannesburg. They shared a 74-run partnership for the sixth wicket from 47 balls. Agha missed his fifty and became Rabada's second victim. The in-form all-rounder scored 48 runs from 33 balls including three fours and a couple of sixes. Shaheen Afridi went for a slog first ball and was caught in the deep. In the final over, Jansen dismissed Tahir and Mohammad Hasnain. Tahir contributed with a 24-ball 28. Pakistan managed to post 308/9 on the board from 47 overs.
South Africa lose too many wickets again
South Africa's run chase got off to a fiery start but captain Bavuma fell to Naseem Shah in the fourth over for a single-digit score. Afridi ended Tony de Zorzi's cameo in the seventh over. The opener scored 26 runs from 23 balls. Aiden Markram was dropped early by Ayub off his own bowling. However, Markram could not make the most of it and became Sufiyan Muqeem's maiden ODI wicket. He scored 19 runs from 27 balls. Once again, Klaasen got off to a flying start. A few overs later, Rassie van der Dussen got out lbw to Hasnain. He scored 35 runs from 52 balls. In the next over, Ayub dismissed David Miller for a single-digit score. South Africa lost half the side for 123 in 21st over.
Klaasen's onslaught, Bosch runs out of partners
Klaasen was not in a mood to slow down. He reached his fifty from just 29 balls. He was ballistic in the middle overs but Afridi ended his stay at the crease in the 29th over. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 12 fours and a couple of sixes in his 43-ball 81. Jansen hit a couple of consecutive sixes off Afridi before falling to Muqeeem for a 22-ball 26. On-debut Bosch kept the run chase alive with Fortuin playing second fiddle. But Shah ended Fortuin's stay at the crease in the 39th over. Rabada hit a four and a six each before losing his wicket to Muqeem in the 32nd over. Maphaka was knocked over on the first ball by the leggie as South Africa were bowled out for 271. With five overs to go in the run chase, Bosch remained stranded at the other end for a 44-ball 40.
