Saim Ayub set a new record in Pakistan’s opening ODI against South Africa at Boland Park.

The 22-year-old scored 109 runs off 119 balls to become the youngest player to score an ODI century in the chase against South Africa.

He achieved this at the age of 22, breaking the previous record set by Brian Lara in 1993, who was then 23 years and 297 days old.

Pakistan were chasing a target of 240 runs. Early wickets fell as Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam were dismissed for low scores. Babar Azam also failed to make a significant contribution, scoring just 23 runs off 38 balls before he was dismissed.

Saim Ayub then teamed up with Salman Agha to add 141 runs for the fifth wicket. Saim Ayub’s knock included 10 boundaries and a six before he was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.

As a token of goodwill, Salman Agha presented his Man of the Match award to Saim Ayub

The team managed to reach the target with one ball to spare and secure a three-wicket win. Saim Ayub’s 100th century is his second in ODIs, after his first in Zimbabwe a month ago.

With this achievement, Saim Ayub also became the youngest player to score an ODI century in South Africa in pursuit, surpassing the previous record set by Quinton de Kock, who was 23 years and 48 days old when he scored his maiden century in 2016 .

Saim Ayub is now the third youngest player to score an ODI century against South Africa after Ahmed Shehzad and Kane Williamson, who both scored their centuries in South Africa.

The win gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with their next game scheduled for December 20 in Cape Town.