Pakistan held their nerve to clinch a dramatic two-wicket win over South Africa in the opening ODI at Faisalabad, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite a strong start and a composed middle-order performance, the hosts almost threw away a comfortable chase before Mohammad Nawaz’s final-over six ensured victory.
Chasing 264 for victory after Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed combined to bowl out South Africa for 263, Pakistan’s top order laid the perfect foundation. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub attacked from the outset, adding 87 runs in just 15 overs. Their intent was clear—neutralize South Africa’s new-ball threat and seize early control. But once the spinners came on, the visitors clawed their way back into the contest.
Donovan Ferreira’s arm ball trapped Ayub for 38, and two overs later, Fakhar mistimed a lofted shot straight to long-on. Bjorn Fortuin then struck the biggest blow of all, trapping Babar Azam plumb in front for just 7. From cruising at 87 without loss, Pakistan suddenly found themselves 98 for 3, giving South Africa a glimmer of hope.
However, Mohammad Rizwan—recently relieved of the ODI captaincy—and Salman Agha rebuilt calmly. Their 91-run stand for the fourth wicket was the bedrock of Pakistan’s chase. Both batters mixed caution with aggression, rotating the strike smartly and punishing loose deliveries. Rizwan’s composed 55 and Agha’s fluent 62 guided Pakistan within touching distance of the target.
At one point, Pakistan needed only 69 runs from 72 balls with seven wickets in hand—a situation that should have sealed the game comfortably. But cricket’s unpredictability had other plans. Corbin Bosch broke the partnership when Rizwan flicked straight to deep backward square, and the momentum began to shift once again.
Hussain Talat joined Agha and the pair looked to finish the job sensibly, adding 45 valuable runs. Yet Talat’s dismissal—caught brilliantly by George Linde diving forward at mid-off—triggered another collapse. Linde struck again soon after, spinning one sharply past Hasan Nawaz, who charged down the track only to be stumped.
With 12 runs still required, Agha fell next, holing out to Donovan Ferreira after a misjudged slog. Suddenly, Pakistan’s chase had turned chaotic. The crowd at Iqbal Stadium fell silent as the tension mounted.
Mohammad Nawaz, known for his composure under pressure, stepped up when it mattered most. With the game slipping away, he smashed a straight six off the last ball of the 49th over to swing the momentum back. Though he was dismissed with scores level, a leg bye off Naseem Shah’s pads sealed a nerve-wracking victory for Pakistan—one that ended with more relief than celebration.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings followed a familiar pattern of promise followed by collapse. Quinton de Kock, returning to ODI action, looked in fine touch, crafting 63 off 68 balls, while debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius impressed with a fluent 57. The pair put on 98 for the first wicket, taking the attack to Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah early on.
Pretorius played the aggressor, using his feet against spin and striking cleanly through the line. De Kock, meanwhile, milked the bowlers and kept the scoreboard moving. At 98 for 0, South Africa looked set for a total beyond 300. But once Pretorius was caught by Nawaz off Saim Ayub, Pakistan began to wrest control.
Naseem Shah returned for a second spell with renewed venom, bowling tighter lines and finding movement. His around-the-wicket angle troubled the left-handers, eventually forcing de Kock to chop onto his stumps. From there, wickets tumbled regularly.
Tony de Zorzi’s promising cameo was cut short by Ayub, and while captain Matthew Breetzke and Sinethemba Qeshile attempted a rebuild, Pakistan’s spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Nawaz applied the squeeze. Abrar’s clever variations earned him three wickets, including the key dismissals of Breetzke and Fortuin in successive balls.
South Africa’s lower order offered little resistance. Bosch’s 32 and Ngidi’s brief stay added 41 crucial runs for the final wicket, giving their bowlers something to defend. But their eventual total of 263 always felt slightly below par on a placid Faisalabad surface.
In reply, Pakistan made hard work of what should have been a routine chase. The win, though unconvincing, highlighted their ability to recover from setbacks—a quality that will serve them well as the series progresses. For South Africa, it was another case of letting a strong position slip, their batting collapses and inability to strike consistently in the middle overs proving costly.
As the teams head to Rawalpindi for the next match, both camps have lessons to take. Pakistan will be relieved to have crossed the line, but questions about their finishing and middle-order composure remain. South Africa, meanwhile, will rue their missed opportunities—both with the bat and in the field—that turned a potential win into a frustrating defeat.
