KARACHI: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha struck brilliant centuries to guide the home team to a thrilling six-wicket victory over South Africa at the National Stadium Karachi, securing a spot in the tri-nation series final.
Agha and Rizwan’s record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership powered Pakistan to a historic 353-run chase, achieving the target with four wickets in hand and six balls to spare.
Chasing 353, Pakistan made a strong start as openers Babar Azam (23) and Fakhar Zaman built a 57-run stand in six overs before Babar was trapped lbw by Wiaan Mulder. Despite his promising start, Babar once again failed to capitalize, managing 23 runs off 19 balls with four boundaries.
Fakhar Zaman and Saud Shakeel contributed a brief 36-run stand for the second wicket before both fell in quick succession. Saud made 15 off 16 balls, while Fakhar played a fluent knock of 41 from 28 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six.
Pakistan found themselves at 91/3 in 10.4 overs before Rizwan and Agha turned the game around with a record-breaking stand.
Agha’s 134 off 103 balls, featuring 16 fours and two sixes, led the charge, while Rizwan remained unbeaten on 122 off 128 deliveries, hitting nine fours and three sixes. Their 260-run partnership marked Pakistan’s highest stand in an ODI run chase.
Agha was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi on the fifth ball of the final over, but his efforts earned him the Player of the Match award. Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the tri-nation series final on February 14 at the same venue.
South Africa’s Innings
Earlier, South Africa set a formidable total of 352/5, thanks to impressive fifties from captain Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, and Heinrich Klaasen.
Opting to bat first, Bavuma provided a solid start with a 51-run opening partnership alongside Tony de Zorzi (22). After De Zorzi’s dismissal, Bavuma and Breetzke combined for a 119-run stand, taking the team’s total to 170 before the skipper was run out.
Bavuma played a fine knock of 82 off 96 balls, hitting 13 boundaries. Later, Breetzke and Klaasen launched a counterattack, adding 68 runs in 56 balls before Khushdil Shah dismissed Klaasen.
Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Wiaan Mulder (2), but Kyle Verreynne and Klaasen kept the scoreboard ticking, adding a quick 78-run partnership off 48 balls for the fifth wicket.
Klaasen’s explosive 87 off 56 deliveries, featuring 11 boundaries and three sixes, was eventually ended by Naseem Shah. Verreynne (44*) and Corbin Bosch (15*) pushed South Africa’s total to 352/5 in 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi claimed two wickets, while Naseem Shah and Khushdil Shah picked up one each.
