Pakistan Batting 242 for 7 (Ayub 109, Agha 82*, Baartman 2-37). South Africa 239 for 9 (Klaasen 86, Agha 4-32, Abrar 2-32) by 3 wickets

Pakistan’s long deficit continues to be a problem and Irfan Khan’s teething problems continue. With the visitors at 60 for 4 in the 20th over, the Ayub-Agha partnership was their last realistic chance of an unlikely victory. South Africa had the chance to slam the door in Pakistan’s face, but when Agha shot the ball to Aiden Markram in the 6th minute, Heinrich Klaasen took a sharp chance.

Gradually, imperceptibly at first, Pakistan fought its way back into the game. Ayub, who until then had unusually shot 31 out of 57 at one point, began to find regular singles and doubles games, as well as the occasional boundary. Agha is perhaps ideally suited to this type of role as he has the ability to save runs even if he is not natural at batting with power.

While South Africa’s intensity and quality in this area declined, the partnership steadily built, creeping past 50 and eventually climbing past three figures. Ayub, having now acquired the kind of flair for which he is naturally known, turned the screw against Baartman, whose numbers up to that point read 5-2-9-2. Two sixes and two fours brought the required rate back under a run a ball before Ayub Rabada hit over midwicket for a majestic six to score his second ODI hundred in three innings.

But with a long tail there was the inevitable risk. Ayub had played with fire and helped reach the deep third and fine leg boundaries and ultimately failed at the latter. Kagiso Rabada, sensing his chance, got the better of Irfan four times later and South Africa were hot on Pakistan’s heels.

Tabraiz Shamsi made short work of Shaheen Afridi but Naseem and Agha realized the odds were under control and methodically went through the final runs. There was occasional excitement, but Agha showed the strength that had defined him since he had integrated so effectively into the team. He seized his moment and hit Shamsi for a six that brought the odds back under control. In the end, all Pakistan needed was a single and there was still time to finish the game brilliantly when Agha brought Jansen down again to secure the win.

Agha’s rise to bowling prominence was as sudden as it was unexpected. Openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton cruised along at over seven runs per over in the first powerplay and easily handled the opening spells of Shaheen and Naseem without appearing to be taking any risks. Rizwan may have introduced Agha into the attack just to break the momentum but it proved to be a wise decision.

Within four overs, South Africa’s batting line-up – and their position of advantage – was torn to shreds. It all started when Agha made one of them slide into de Zorzi and hold him in front of her. No verification was required. Rickleton knocked him out in his following over, but Agha would save his best for last. With the new batters suddenly unable to recognize it off the pitch or out of hand, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs went for a turn that wasn’t there and heard the rattle as their off-stump was bounced back.

Rizwan, sensing that the spin was gaining surprising traction here, took out the entire cavalry. It didn’t take long for Abrar Ahmed to assert himself while Ayub and Ghulam each took their turn. But Markram and Klaasen slowly began to regain control from Pakistan, battling through the middle overs and hoping to hold on before going big at the death. But they knew the innings was being played on a rope without a safety belt and all it took was one mistake on an Ayub long-hop from Markram to send them tumbling away.

With Jansen struggling badly throughout his innings, it was left to Klaasen to salvage as much as he could from what was left. The Pakistani sailors were also at their best, disciplined and spirited. This Jansen-Klaasen stand made it to 50, but Jansen only managed 10 out of 27 and only got that far thanks to the generosity of a dolly laid down by Haris Rauf. Klaasen tried to keep batting and fully deserved a fifth ODI hundred, but Shaheen also deserved a wicket. It came over a beauty that edged Klaasen’s middle stump and sent it flying back; The rattle was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for the hosts’ innings.

Kagiso Rabada and Ottniel Baartman limped along in the last few overs, adding 21 for the 9th wicket, but Pakistan had done much of the damage by then through Agha. Together with Ayub, they would ensure the job was done in a game that the two dominated so much that when Agha was named player of the match, he invited Ayub to strip him instead.