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Agha and Rizwan score centuries in Pakistan's biggest-ever one-day cricket chase
Agha and Rizwan score centuries in Pakistan's biggest-ever one-day cricket chase.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan 122* and Salman Agha 134, Pakistan chased down 353 with six wickets to spare.
Salman Agha scored his first century in one-day internationals, while Mohammad Rizwan hit his fourth, leading Pakistan to their highest successful chase in ODIs. This victory secured their spot in the tri-series final against New Zealand on Saturday. Rizwan and Salman, the captain and vice-captain of Pakistan, set a record with a fourth-wicket partnership of 260 runs, which is the highest against South Africa and the fourth-highest by any pair chasing a score. South Africa has never before seen such a high score chased against them.
On a pitch-perfect for batting, Pakistan's effort overshadowed Temba Bavuma's highest ODI score since September 2023, Matthew Breetzke's record for the most runs in two matches (233), and Heinrich Klaasen's fourth consecutive score of over 80 runs in the highest-scoring match between these two teams.
It was a tough day for bowlers, especially the fast ones. Pakistan's bowlers gave away 206 runs in 28 overs, with Mohammad Hasnain's eight overs costing 72 runs. South Africa's fast bowlers conceded 223 runs in 27 overs. South Africa has now lost six consecutive ODIs.
The bigger concern for South Africa was losing Heinrich Klaasen to a thumb injury. Klaasen left the field in the 32nd over after a ball from Corbin Bosch hit his right thumb. Kyle Verreynne took over as wicket-keeper. There was no immediate update on Klaasen's condition.
Pakistan had never given up more runs in Karachi and had only once allowed South Africa to score more against them. Their chase started strong when Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam added 56 runs in the first six overs, targeting both Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch. Wiaan Mulder, introduced as first-change early in the seventh over, dismissed Babar with his first legitimate ball. Babar's attempt to flick the ball resulted in an LBW decision confirmed by UltraEdge.
Saud Shakeel brought into the side for this match, kept up the pressure and scored 15 off 16 balls before mistiming a shot off Bosch to Mulder at deep mid-wicket. Pakistan's powerplay score of 91 for 2 was their third-highest since 2002, putting them in a good position.
South Africa gained an advantage when, four balls into the 11th over, Fakhar edged a Mulder delivery, and Klaasen took a diving catch to his left. Rizwan had faced only two balls, one of which he pulled for four, when he was joined by Salman Agha, with a rebuilding job to do.
Pakistan scored only one boundary in the next seven overs, and the required run-rate climbed to over 7.3. However, Pakistan started to find more boundaries gradually. Salman targeted anything full from the spinners, and the pair rotated the strike well, taking Pakistan to 163 for 3 at the halfway mark, still needing 190 runs.
Senuran Muthusamy came into the attack at that point, and by his third over, Rizwan lined him up and hit a six over long-on, bringing up their hundred partnership. By then, Rizwan already had fifty, and Salman soon reached his fifty off 51 balls.
Pakistan chased down South Africa’s total with six balls to spare, thanks to strong performances from Salman and Rizwan. Despite a required run rate of 7-8 runs per over, they remained calm and took advantage of loose deliveries. Rizwan reached his century first, followed by Salman, and Pakistan comfortably crossed 300 in the 44th over.
South Africa had a solid start, scoring 64 for 1 in the powerplay. Breetzke played aggressively, while Bavuma, after struggling in previous matches, reached his fifty. He had some lucky escapes but was eventually run out on 82. Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Shaheen Shah Afridi, kept up the pressure with pace and intensity, leading to a heated moment between him and Breetzke. Despite South Africa scoring well in the last 10 overs, Pakistan’s steady chase secured the win.
South Africa looked set for a big total when Klaasen found his rhythm after a slow start. He smashed Hasnain for four boundaries in an over, helping his team reach 200. Breetzke fell to a brilliant catch by Salman, and Mulder was dismissed soon after, leaving South Africa at 242 for 4 with ten overs to go.
Klaasen then took charge, hitting massive sixes and racing to his fifty off 38 balls. He added 37 more runs in just 18 deliveries, punishing Afridi and Naseem before getting caught at long-on. Despite his explosive knock, Pakistan’s two centuries made the difference, securing their victory.
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