Saim Ayub, with two brilliant centuries including one in the recently concluded third ODI, was among the frontline stars for Pakistan as the team clinched its first clean sweep series win in South Africa following a victory in the third and final ODI at Johannesburg on Monday. This overwhelming accomplishment by Pakistan away from home drew praise from captain Mohammed Rizwan over the performance of young opener Saim Ayub, who said, “Trust and believes in him as a great talent in the team.”
It is always a proud moment to win a series, added Rizwan, speaking during the post-match presentation. Our nation expects such things from us, and we are happy. The entire team made an effort for this. Everyone performed in the second ODI, and that was a perfect team game. It is not easy to play away from your country. These guys had trust in each other. (On Saim Ayub) I do not want to praise him more. We trust him and believe in his talent.”
Ayub finished as Pakistan’s highest scorer in the series with 235 runs coming from three games at an average of 78.33, scoring at a strike rate of more than 96 with a best haul of 109. For his part, Ayub has fifteen ODIs with 515 runs at an average of 64.37 and a strike rate of 105.53 from nine ODIs so far with three centuries and a fifty, with a top score of 113*.
South Africa won the toss and decided to field first. After Abdullah Shafique’s duck, there was a 115-run partnership between Ayub (101 off 94 balls; 13 fours; 2 sixes) and Babar Azam (52 off 71 balls; 7 fours), followed by a 93-run association for the third wicket between Ayub and Rizwan (53 in 52 balls, with five fours and a six) as Pakistan posted a challenging 308/9 in 50 overs.
Kagiso Rabada with 3/56 in 10 overs was the standout bowler for the Proteas. Marco Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin also got two wickets.
Proteas succumbed to wickets at regular intervals. Heinrich Klaasen (81 in 43 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes) once again proved to be the lone warrior with a third consecutive fifty as Temba Bavuma (8), Tony de Zorzi (26 in 23 balls, with two fours and two sixes), Aiden Markram (19 in 26 balls, with three fours), Rassie Van Der Dussen (35 in 52 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and David Miller had all failed to support him enough on the runs tally. Bosch is stranded at 40* in 44 balls, with five fours, while the Proteas are bundled out for 271/10 in 42 overs.
Bowling wise Sufiyan Muqeem (4/52) was the pick for Pakistan followed by Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi with two wickets each.
The Man of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Series’ prizes were jointly awarded to Ayub.