By Mark Gleeson and Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Salman Ali Agha top scored for Pakistan as they snatched a last-over victory over South Africa on Tuesday in an exciting finish to the first of three One Day Internationals at Faisalabad.
Salman scored 62 as Pakistan won by two wickets with two balls remaining as they successfully chased down a 264-run target.
Pakistan put South Africa in to bat and the tourists’ opening pair put on a 98-run partnership before teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored 57 off 60 balls on his ODI debut, was expertly caught at point.
Quinton de Kock, back in the ODI ranks after a two-year absence, was South Africa’s top scorer with 63 and Corbin Bosch made a quick-fire 41 in the last overs before South Africa were bowled out for 263 with five balls to spare.
Fakhar Zaman (45) and Saim Ayub (39) got Pakistan off to a solid 87-run first-wicket start and they kept on course as Mohammad Rizwan hit 55 and featured in a key 91-run fourth-wicket partnership with Salman. Rizwan had been replaced as captain last month.
There was a wobble for Pakistan, who were seemingly coasting to victory when they lost three wickets in successive overs, but new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was there at the end to help see them over the line.
The two teams meet again at Iqbal Stadium, hosting international cricket after a 17-year absence, on Thursday.
Meanwhile Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt admits that it’s frustrating that they’ve lost three consecutive finals, but there are many positives to build on.
Wolvaardt led the Proteas women’s team to the country’s first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup final, where they fell short by 52 runs against hosts India women in Navi Mumbai this past Sunday.
Sunday’s final was not the Proteas women’s first ICC event final, as the team reached two back-to-back ICC event finals during the 2023 and 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.
Wolvaardt and her teammates received a warm welcome when they arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.