Saim and Abrar star in Pakistan’s historic home series victory against South Africa.

South Africa – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk)- A packed crowd at the Iqbal Stadium got what they hoped for: flowing strokes from Babar Azam. Normally, home fans would have remained silent after witnessing Fakhar Zaman clean up early in a small pursuit – presumably a foreshadowing of things to come; perhaps an all-too-familiar collapse was in the offing.
However, on Saturday night, there were tremendous roars and cries of “Babar” booming throughout the auditorium, with Pakistan’s batting hero poised to appear next. Babar did not disappoint, dispatching the South African bowlers with his typical elan, and he and Saim Ayub guided Pakistan to a rollicking seven-wicket victory that gave them a 2-1 lead in the three-match One-Day International series.

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The venue had gone silent after Babar’s departure in the 11th over, disappointment filling the air that they weren’t able to see more of him when he was looking close to his best, run out for 27 after stroking five crisp fours.

But they soon found their voice as Saim tore into the South African attack with a 70-ball 77 that featured 11 fours and a six and although he fell with Pakistan nearing victory, Mohammad Rizwan (32 not out) took them through with Salman Ali Agha hitting the winning boundary.

A packed crowd at the Iqbal Stadium got what they hoped for: flowing strokes from Babar Azam. Normally, home fans would have remained silent after witnessing Fakhar Zaman clean up early in a small pursuit – presumably a foreshadowing of things to come; perhaps an all-too-familiar collapse was in the offing.
However, on Saturday night, there were tremendous roars and cries of “Babar” booming throughout the auditorium, with Pakistan’s batting hero poised to appear next. Babar did not disappoint, dispatching the South African bowlers with his typical elan, and he and Saim Ayub guided Pakistan to a rollicking seven-wicket victory that gave them a 2-1 lead in the three-match One-Day International series.

The credit goes to the players,” reflected Shaheen at the post-match ceremony. “We didn’t get much help in the first five or six overs but when the spinners came in, they made it really tough for them.

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On a sun-kissed afternoon, the 72-run opening stand between Pretorius and De Kock ended after the former, who had hit four fours and a six, was caught at long-off by Babar and Salman struck again four overs later when Tony de Zorzi chipped him to the cover fielder.

De Kock, whose splendid century in the second game had helped South Africa level the series, completed his half century off 68 deliveries with his sixth four, a sweep of Nawaz, only to be trapped lbw by the spinner two deliveries later. The left-hander also hit a six.

South Africa then slipped from 106-2 to 109-4 with player-of-the-match Abrar cleaning up debutant Rubin Hermann on the first ball of the 26th over. Bails were flying once again, twice off two balls, two overs later as Abrar worked his magic. First Donovan Ferreira was bowled round his legs before a googly that stayed low knocked back Corbin Bosch’s off-stump.

Pakistan had South Africa on the ropes with Breetzke (16) running out of partners quick and fast as Nawaz had Bjorn Fortuin lbw, and the writing was on the wall for the Proteas when their skipper was caught behind off Abrar, who recorded his career-best ODI figures, as they slipped to 130-8.

Pakistan captain Shaheen (2-18) then cleaned up the tail with two wickets in two balls – both of them bowled, including the wicket of Nqabayomzi Peter who made a defiant 16.

“Batting conditions were pretty tough and we didn’t get enough runs and they batted freely because of that,” rued De Kock, who was named player-of-the-series.

The sentiment was echoed by Breetzke. “Not enough runs… we were probably looking at 250. It was tough conditions and unfortunately we lost too many wickets there.”

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Nandre Burger’s dismissal of Fakhar, knocking his stumps through the gate, brought Babar to the crease and after a quiet opening couple of overs, the right-hander, who had scores of seven and 11 in the opening two matches, got Pakistan off the mark in the third which ended with a boundary of Saim’s bat – a punch through the covers.

A deft touch of Lundi Ngidi then brought Babar’s first boundary before Saim flicked away the pacer for four. Babar then pulled Burger away for four before treating the crowd to two delightful boundaries off Ngidi in the sixth over.

Boundaries were flowing for Pakistan – three of them coming off the eighth over off Bosch, all of them from Saim with the first a six. At the other end, Babar showed his elegance with a scrumptious cover drive for four as Pakistan reached 59-1 after the first 10.

Babar would eventually be driven out, but Saim took command and remained unwavering. With his ninth four, he pulled away from Burger, bringing his total to 50 in just 39 balls. Fortuin and Ferreira were then swept for boundaries, with the latter scoring a one-bounce four.

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Saim collapsed after he couldn’t gain the distance off Fortuin, but the job was already completed with Rizwan closing it out. Rizwan, who was replaced as captain by Shaheen before the series, struck three fours and a six over midwicket to leave Pakistan four runs behind, and Salman ended with 24.5 overs to spare.