PAIR: Despite bailing Pakistan out of trouble and over the finish line in their three-wicket win over South Africa at Boland Park on Tuesday, middle-order batsman Salman Ali Agha credited opener Saim Ayub for preparing the visitors.

Coming into the game in the 17th over, with Pakistan reeling at 4-60 while chasing 240, Salman built a 141-run partnership with Saim and went on to hit an unbeaten 82 off 90, adding to his bowling performances of 4: 32 led.

Aided by Salman’s calming presence, Saim vividly showcased his prodigious talent with a classy century, his second ton in his seventh ODI.

In the post-match presentation, Salman said he wanted to hand over his player of the match to Saim.

“His swing set up the game, if he hadn’t played we wouldn’t have won,” said the right-hander. “We were behind but he scored 100 points and it was an amazing performance so he deserved the award.”

Saim, on the other hand, appreciated Salman’s “experience and company” during the winning partnership.

The 22-year-old Saim scored his second ton in his seventh ODI with an elegant 109 off 119 balls, laying the foundation for victory as Pakistan scored 242-7 with three balls to spare in reply to South Africa’s 239-9 in their match 50 Overs.

His attitude towards Salman turned the game in Pakistan’s favor as they initially struggled to score and fell short of the required run rate as the South African bowlers had the upper hand early on.

Saim hit South African quick Ottniel Baartman for 17 runs in four balls in the 35th over to boost the chase and give Pakistan sight of the finish line.

Saim, who hit 10 fours and three sixes, took a catch at deep fine leg off Kagiso Rabada, needing 39 runs with eight overs to spare.

Two more wickets then quickly fell to slow Pakistan’s march, giving the home fans hope of an unlikely comeback, but Salman’s strike ensured Pakistan took a narrow lead.

“We just wanted to play the game as deep as possible and reach the boundaries when they are available,” Salman said of his partnership with Saim. “I think Saim’s innings was great – one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. The way he fought at such a young age was outstanding.

“He is so young and yet so mature. Normally players his age don’t have this composure, but he is an outstanding talent. What stood out today was his calmness. He knew exactly what to do in a pressure situation, which is rare for someone his age. He is one for the future.”

Heinrich Klaasen managed 86 off 97 balls in South Africa’s total of 239 for nine balls, but had to play more conservatively than usual after the innings stalled due to Salman’s off-spin.

South Africa got off to a fast start as Tony de Zorzi (33) and Ryan Rickelton (36) scored 70 for the first wicket in the 10-over powerplay.

But Salman, who had taken just 10 wickets at a cost of 50 runs each in 27 previous ODIs, took the first four wickets inside 12 balls as South Africa fell to 88 for four.

“Since there are two left-handed batters, the plan for me was always to bowl after the powerplay,” Salman said. “I’m very happy to take four wickets – I don’t do that very often in one-day cricket! It was a planned move and I’m glad it worked out.”

Spin bowling dominated with the slow bowlers bowling a total of 27 overs and taking seven wickets for 107 runs.

Saim followed up an unbeaten 98 with an innings of skill and maturity in a Twenty20 international at Centurion last Friday. Saim and Salman steadied the innings before steadily increasing their strike rate.

The game turned dramatically in Pakistan’s favor when Baartman returned to the bowling attack in the 35th over. Baartman had conceded two for nine balls in five overs in his first over, but Saim bowled his first two balls for six in one over, yielding 22 runs.

Pakistan will look to seal the series when they take on South Africa in the second game of the three-match series in Cape Town on Thursday.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

T. de Zorzi lbw Salman 33

R. Rickelton b Salman 36

R. van der Dussen b Salman 8

A. Markram c Kamran b Saim 35

T. Stubbs b Salman 1

H. Klaasen b Shaheen 86

M. Jansen c Shaheen b Abrar 10

A. Phehlukwayo c Saim b Abrar 1

K. Rabada came in 11th place

O. Baartman not less than 10

EXTRAS (B-4, W-4) 8

TOTAL (for nine weeks, 50 overs) 239

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-70 (de Zorzi), 2-73 (Rickelton), 3-86 (van der Dussen), 4-88 (Stubbs), 5-161 (Markram), 6-211 (Jansen), 7 -214 (Phehlukwayo), 8-218 (Klaasen), 9-239 (Rabada)

DID NOT BEAT: T. Shamsi

BOWLING: Shaheen 10-1-46-1 (4w), Naseem 6-0-40-0, Salman 8-0-32-4, Abrar 10-1-32-2, Haris 7-0-42-0, Saim 7-0-34-1, Kamran 2-0-9-0

PAKISTAN:

Saim Ayub c Shamsi b Rabada 109

Abdullah Shafique vs Jansen 0

Babar Azam c Jansen b Baartman 23

Mohammad Rizwan b Baartman 1

Kamran Ghulam came 4th

Salman Ali Agha not out 82

Irfan Khan c&b Rabada 1

Shaheen Afridi vs Shamsi 0

Naseem Shah not out 9

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-12) 13

TOTAL (for seven weeks, 49.3 overs) 242

CASE OF WICKETS: 1-2 (Abdullah), 2-46 (Babar), 3-52 (Rizwan), 4-60 (Kamran), 5-201 (Saim), 6-203 (Irfan), 7-209 ( Shaheen)

NOT BEATEN: Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

BOWLING: Rabada 10-0-48-2 (2w), Jansen 9.3-0-45-1 (1w), Baartman 7-2-37-2 (1w), Markram 10-1-42-0 (3w ), Shamsi 10-0-54-1 (1w), Phehlukwayo 3-0-15-0

RESULT: Pakistan won by three wickets.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Salman Ali Agha

Published in Dawn, December 19, 2024