NEW DELHI: A full-strength Pakistan marked the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after 17 years with a thrilling two-wicket win over a spirited South Africa in the first ODI. Chasing 264, the home side was pushed to the brink before their tailenders held firm to seal victory with two balls to spare.
South Africa, playing with an inexperienced attack, showed great fight till the end, taking four wickets in the final five overs. Earlier, debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) and the returning Quinton de Kock (63) powered South Africa to 263 before the innings fell apart, losing their last seven wickets for just 72 runs.
Top-scorer Salman Ali Agha (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (55) anchored Pakistan’s innings after early stumbles. The pair added 91 runs for the fourth wicket, steadying the chase with smart rotation of strike on a slow surface. Rizwan, playing his first ODI since being replaced as captain by Shaheen Afridi, looked in fine touch as he swept and drove the spinners confidently.
Earlier, openers Fakhar Zaman (45) and Saim Ayub (39) gave Pakistan a strong start with an 87-run stand against a second-string South African pace attack that was missing Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. But off-spinner Donovan Ferreira, one of three debutants, halted the progress with two quick wickets. He trapped Ayub lbw and had Zaman caught at long-on in successive overs.
Babar Azam, who had starred in the preceding T20I series, fell cheaply for 4 to left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, leaving Pakistan in a spot of bother at 109 for 3. Rizwan and Agha rebuilt smartly, but both fell as South Africa clawed back in the death overs. With Agha’s dismissal in the penultimate over and scores level, Naseem Shah scampered a leg bye to seal a thrilling victory.
De Kock’s return to ODIs after two years and Pretorius’ confident debut gave South Africa a flying start, as they added 98 runs off 96 balls for the opening wicket. Pretorius struck seven fours and a six in his 47-ball half-century before falling to Saim Ayub.
De Kock followed soon after, chopping Naseem Shah onto his stumps after reaching his 31st ODI fifty. The middle order then crumbled under pressure as Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and Nawaz combined to pick regular wickets.
Leg-spinner Abrar (3-53) nearly claimed a hat-trick after dismissing Ferreira and Fortuin off successive balls, but Ngidi survived a close lbw review. Corbin Bosch’s late cameo of 41 off 40 balls lifted South Africa to a competitive total that almost proved enough, but Pakistan’s depth carried them through to a memorable win in Faisalabad.
(With PTI Inputs)
