Pakistan beat South Africa in 3rd ODI, win series: Stats
What's the story
Pakistan's bowlers, especially spinner Abrar Ahmed, wreaked havoc on a slow Faisalabad pitch in the third ODI against South Africa. The visitors were bundled out for just 143 runs after having elected to bat. Abrar claimed four wickets in the contest with the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub taking two wickets each. In response, Pakistan lost an early wicket before holding on to get the job done.
Match dynamics
South Africa suffer a collapse after a good start
Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius gave South Africa a solid start with a 72-run partnership for the first wicket. However, the team suffered a major collapse after that, losing their last eight wickets for just 37 runs. Abrar was the main destroyer of this batting order, finishing with impressive figures of 4/27 in his allotted overs. He bowled 1 maiden.
Bowling brilliance
The Proteas lose wickets in quick succession
Salman Agha gave Pakistan their first breakthrough by having Pretorius caught at long-off for 39 runs. Tony de Zorzi fell soon after, chipping Agha tamely to extra cover. De Kock (53) continued his innings and completed 7,000 ODI runs but was dismissed LBW two balls later while trying to slog-sweep the spinner Mohammad Nawaz. Then came Abrar's spin magic as he took three wickets in two overs, including debutant Rubin Hermann who failed to pick the googly.
Match conclusion
Abrar Ahmed ends the innings for South Africa
Abrar didn't get a hat-trick but had Breetzke caught behind in his last over to hasten South Africa's end. Despite some resistance from the lower order, Afridi wrapped up the innings in the 38th over with two wickets in two balls. This performance by Pakistan's bowlers, especially Abrar, was instrumental in dismissing South Africa for just 143 runs and securing a dominant position in the series-deciding ODI match.
QDK
Quinton de Kock becomes second-fastest batter to 7,000 ODI runs
De Kock has scripted history by becoming the second-fastest batter to complete 7,000 ODI runs (by innings). The star South African opener accomplished the milestone with his 44th run. As per ESPNcricinfo, de Kock reached the milestone in his 158th inning. The only batter to reach the 7,000 ODI run landmark faster is the southpaw's former teammate Hashim Amla, who took 150 innings. De Kock displaced New Zealand's Kane Williamson at the second place, with the latter taking 159 innings.
Runs
32nd fifty for de Kock in ODIs
After blasting his way to a century in the 2nd ODI of the ongoing series, de Kock backed it up with a score of 53 in this clash. This was de Kock's 32nd fifty in ODIs. He owns 7,009 runs at an average of 46.72 (100s: 22). As per ESPNcricinfo, de Kock has scored 829 runs from 19 matches against Pakistan at 46.05. This was his 4th fifty against Pakistan (100s: 2).
Do you know?
Fifth SA batter with milestone of 7,000-plus runs
De Kock is the fifth South African batter to amass 7,000-plus runs in ODI cricket. He has joined the likes of Jacques Kallis (11,550), AB de Villiers (9,427), Amla (8,113), and Herschelle Gibbs (8,094). Interestingly, de Kock is the first left-handed Proteas batter to attain this massive milestone.
Abrar
2nd four-fer for Abrar in ODIs
Abrar's 4/27 included a maiden over. He has now raced to a tally of 25 wickets from 13 ODI matches at 21.64. This was his 2nd four-fer in ODIs. His only other four-fer came against Zimbabwe in Harare. As per ESPNcricinfo, in 5 matches against the Proteas, Abrar has claimed 11 wickets at 20.27. In 29 List A games, Abrar now owns 47 wickets.
SA
South Africa post these unwanted records with the bat
The Proteas posted their joint-second lowest total versus Pakistan in ODIs. Their lowest total against Pakistan 101 at Sharjah, 2000. This is followed by 143 at Dubai, 2013 and 143 at Faisalabad, 2025. As per Cricbuzz, South Africa posted their 2nd-lowest total after a 50+ opening stand (ODIs). Their lowest score in this regard is 134 versus Afghanistan in Sharjah. 2024 (1st wkt: 73).
Information
Another sorry record for the visitors
South Africa lost the last 9 wickets for just 56 runs. As per Cricbuzz, this is their 6th worst collapse in ODIs. Meanwhile, 71 runs added after the fall of the first wicket is now their 5th lowest partnership aggregate from No. 2 to 10 wickets.
Chase
Pakistan complete the chase, win by 7 wickets
Pakistan got the job done, winning the match by 7 wickets. Fakhar Zaman perished for a 2nd successive duck in this series as Pakistan were 0/1. Babar Azam walked in and alongside Saim Ayub added 65 runs for the 2nd wicket. Babar perished for 27 before Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan added 65 runs for the 3rd wicket. Ayub perished for 77 runs as Rizwan saw off the chase.
Information
8th duck for Fakhar in ODIs
This was Fakhar's 2nd successive duck in this series. He has now recorded 8 ducks in ODIs. His average has dropped to 45.07. Versus the Proteas, he owns 2 ducks with his average reading 45.
Ayub
Ayub averages 67.33 versus SA
Ayub was the match-winner for his side. His 77 had 11 fours and a six from 70 balls. With this effort, he has got to 712 runs from 15 matches at a solid 50.85. This was his 3rd fifty. He also has three tons. Versus SA, he owns 404 runs from 6 matches at 67.33. In addition to two tons, he has clobbered 2 fifties.
Information
Rizwan scores an unbeaten 32; Babar gets 27
Rizwan hit an unbeaten 32. He managed three fours and a six. Playing his 97th ODI, he has raced to 2,804 runs 40.63. In 13 matches versus SA, he owns 434 runs at 43.40. Babar hit a knock of 27 from 32 balls (4s: 5).
Do you know?
Pakistan maintain their tempo against SA
As per Cricbuzz, Pakistan have won their first-ever ODI series against South Africa on home soil. Meanwhile, they are also on a three-series winning streak, having won four of the last five ODI series against them.