Two Middle-Order Fifties Anchor a Stress-Test of a Chase
Pakistan scraped home by two wickets in the first ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Tuesday — a match that swung dramatically late and only finished with two balls left.
Chasing 264, the hosts appeared on cruise control more than once, but South Africa kept ripping out wickets just when momentum tilted away. In the end, it was a fragment of composure — and a scrambling single by Naseem Shah — that sealed the result.
Mohammad Rizwan (55) and Salman Ali Agha (62) were the pillars of the pursuit, stitching together 91 priceless runs for the 4th wicket that effectively carried the chase through its difficult middle.
A Promising Start, Then a Mini-Collapse
Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman gave Shaheen Afridi’s side the perfect platform — an 87-run stand that flattened South Africa’s new-ball threat.
Then Donovan Ferreira flipped the innings.
He dismissed both openers in 10 balls and Babar Azam exited shortly after, slashing Pakistan from comfortable to exposed at 105–3.
Rizwan & Agha Rescue Mission — Nearly Spoiled Late
Rizwan and Agha rebuilt heedfully but positively, allowing Pakistan to get ahead of the asking rate. At 196–3, Pakistan had the match in their hands.
But Rizwan’s wicket in the 39th over triggered chaos.
Four wickets fell for 56 runs. Suddenly Pakistan were 252–7 with 12 needed off 12.
Nawaz chipped in 9 under pressure, got out in the final over, and left No.9 Naseem Shah to finish what he famously has a knack for finishing: a test of nerves.
He survived an LBW scare, then sprinted the match-winning single.
South Africa’s 263: Promising, but Not Enough
Earlier, South Africa’s opening pair — Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) and Quinton de Kock (63) — had powered the tourists to 98 without loss.
From there, wickets came in clusters. Pakistan squeezed the middle overs, and a collapse sent South Africa from poised to par.
Corbin Bosch’s 41 gave them a chance of defending something — but it wasn’t tall enough.
Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah shared three wickets each, with Saim Ayub adding two more — including the opening breakthrough.
Shaheen Begins Captaincy With a Late-Drama Win
Pakistan lead the series 1–0, and for Shaheen Shah Afridi — in his first ODI as full-time captain — this was a baptism in tight-finish management.
A win. But one that felt like a warning.
The batting depth delivered — just barely — and the middle-order showed it can recover.
But South Africa exposed that even a chase that appears comfortable can be overturned with just two sharp overs.
Next ODI: pressure already feels like it will be premium.
