Pakistan and South Africa locked horns in the third ODI at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, February 12. This was a must-win game for both sides, with the winner getting the opportunity to face New Zealand in the final.
The Proteas won the toss and opted to bat first on what seemed like a belter of a track. Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi got South Africa off to a solid start as they added 51 runs in eight overs. After De Zorzi failed to cash in on a good start, Bavuma added 119 runs with Matthew Breetzke, who was coming off a splendid century in the last game against the Kiwis.
Bavuma was unfortunately run out for 82 but this brought the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen to the crease. The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter played the aggressive role in a 68-run partnership which came off just 56 balls. After Breetzke was dismissed for an 84-ball 83, Klaasen and Kyle Verreynne took the Pakistan bowlers to the cleaners in the death overs.
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Klaasen hit 11 fours and three sixes in his knock of 87 off 56 balls. Verreynne remained unbeaten on 44 off 32 deliveries as South Africa amassed 352/5 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Pakistan got off to a flying start as Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam added 57 runs in just six overs. Wiaan Mulder provided the initial breakthrough for the tourists as he dismissed Babar. Saud Shakeel was dismissed cheaply, while Fakhar failed to convert his blistering start into a big score.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha joined forces when the score was at 91/3 in 10.4 overs. There were no boundaries scored for the next seven overs after Fakhar departed, steadily increasing the required run rate. The two batters had settled in nicely. The scoring pace was a bit on the lower side though.
Rizwan brought up 2,000 ODI runs an over after getting to his half-century off 64 deliveries. Agha also got to his fifty after a few overs. The two batters milked the Proteas’ bowling lineup along as nothing seemed to have been working for the latter. The captain and vice-captain brought up their tons in the same over, by the end of which their side only required 56 from the remaining seven overs. The 16 runs taken off Mulder’s final over of the game proved to be pretty much it to take Pakistan to the cusp of victory.
The next three overs resulted in as many boundaries coupled with occasional singles to inch the hosts ever so close to their highest successful run-chase in their history of ODI cricket. It was quite anticlimactic for Agha to head back to the dugout with just a couple of runs required. The job was finished with a boundary off the very next delivery. The hosts will take on New Zealand in the final of the tri-series, with the match scheduled at the same venue on Friday, February 14.
Check out how X reacted to Match 3 of the Tri Nation Series –
Moments 🔥
Salman Ali Agha 🤝 Muhammad Rizwan#PakistanCricket #PAKvSA #PakvsRSA
pic.twitter.com/uPsd30brzi
— Waqas Khan 🇺🇸 (@WWakas) February 12, 2025
Irrespective of the result, Salman Ali Agha has played a breathtaking innings with some of the best shots game has ever seen(particularly those pick up shots)…simply pleasing on the eye.#PakvsRSA
pic.twitter.com/mSIBFcMRW3
— Rinchan (@girdeh) February 12, 2025
Congratulations to #Pakistan for achieving the highest successful run chase in ODI cricket! All credit goes to Rizwan & Salman Ali Agha for making the nation proud. 🇵🇰♥️ #PAKvSA #PaKvsSA #PakvsRSA pic.twitter.com/bCa8yhnZvI
— Adv. Mian Omer🇵🇰 (@Iam_Mian) February 12, 2025
Greatest Wicketkeeper Pakistan has ever produced, Look at the innings and average 👏👏#MuhammadRizwan #PakvsRSA pic.twitter.com/XzBPtQDsIo
— 𝑨𝙗𝒅𝙪𝒍𝙡𝒂𝙝 𝙎𝒖𝙡𝒕𝙖𝒏⁵⁶ (@Abdullahs_56) February 12, 2025
Pakistan registered their highest ever run chase in ODI history today, chasing a target of 353 against South Africa.
Record partnership
Record Chase
An absolute beauty❤️❤️
What an amazing batting by Rizwan and Salman.
#PakistanCricket | #PakvsRSA pic.twitter.com/m4lKZO1rlL
— Rameez Afzal (@RameezAfzal30) February 12, 2025
One of the greatest ever odi partnerships! Take a bow salman and rizwan #PakistanCricket #PakvsRSA #PAKvSA
— sportoholic (@hydrsakeena007) February 12, 2025
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