Abrar was the star with the ball, delivering his career-best figures of 4 for 27 to bamboozle South Africa on a slow Faisalabad pitch. This triumph marked Pakistan’s third consecutive ODI series win against the Proteas.
South Africa began strongly as Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius added 72 for the first wicket. However, once Abrar entered the attack, everything changed. He took three wickets in two overs, triggering a dramatic collapse that saw South Africa bowled out for just 143 in 37.5 overs.
Pakistan’s chase started cautiously, losing Fakhar Zaman early, but young Saim Ayub played with confidence and flair. His unbeaten 77 off 70 balls, featuring crisp drives and fearless hitting, guided Pakistan to victory with nearly 25 overs remaining.
Earlier, De Kock had reached 7,000 ODI runs, becoming the second-fastest player in history to achieve the milestone after Hashim Amla. But after reaching his fifty, he fell lbw to Mohammad Nawaz, and the rest of South Africa’s batting fell apart under pressure.
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Abrar’s spin proved unplayable. Debutant Rubin Hermann and Donovan Ferreira failed to read his variations, and Corbin Bosch was bowled first ball. Afridi finished the innings with two wickets in two balls, sealing the South African collapse.
In Pakistan’s reply, Babar Azam added 27 before a run-out, but Ayub’s aggressive stroke play ensured there were no late hiccups. Pakistan’s chase ended comfortably, underlining their dominance throughout the match.
Pakistan’s win showed balance and confidence. Abrar’s clever spin and Ayub’s fearless batting gave Pakistan control in both innings. This victory highlights Pakistan’s growing strength in limited-overs cricket and the rise of young stars ready to take charge of the future.
