Pakistan clinch maiden 3-0 ODI series whitewash against South Africa
Soumyaroop Mukherjee
New Delhi: Pakistan scripted a memorable ODI series whitewash against South Africa as the Shaheens swept aside a dominant South African side to complete a rare 3-0 sweep.
South Africa, who first featured in an official ODI series back in 1991, had never suffered such a humiliation at home. Their first home series came in 1992 against India.
But, Rizwan’s men refused to back down and step down from the gas pedal even after claiming an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. In the final ODI at Johannesburg, Pakistan once again produced an all-round effort to etch their name in history books.
What happened in the game?
Loosing the toss, the Pakistani team were asked to bat first. However, the men in green had a shaky start to the innings after opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed facing his first ball. However, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam steadied the capsizing ship to put a 115-run partnership
The two batters gave a platform for skipper Mohammad Rizwan to build on, hitting the ground running with 53 off 52 (five fours and a six) and forming a resilient 93-run stand with Ayub.
Ayub’s scintillating third ODI century was cut short when Corbin Bosch’s clever delivery forced an edge to Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps, with late contributions from Salman Agha (48 in 33 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Tayyab Tahir (28 in 24 balls, with two fours and a six) lifted Pakistan to a competitive total of 308/9.
Coming to the South African side, Kagiso Rabada (3/56 in 10 overs) was the top bowler for Proteas. Marco Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin also got two wickets. However, it was the South African batters who lit up the scene. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen set about in a rebuild following the loss of Tony de Zorzi. However, it was Heinrich Klaasen who gave a hope for a win. In the end, the Pakistani team won by 36 runs (through DLS).
