Recap: Pakistan whitewash SA as Ayub and Muqeem shine

JOHANNESBURG: After Saim Ayub led Pakistan to a score of 308 by scoring a century, Sufiyan Muqeem capitalised on the momentum, taking four wickets and completing the white wash of South Africa in ODIs.

THE GAME

Despite an early shock courtesy of Kagiso Rabada, as he dismissed opener Abdullah Shafique on the second ball of the match, Pakistan would mount an effective offense. Shafique’s fellow opener Saim Ayub would pick up his slack, scoring the third century of his young ODI career, and his third since November 26. His innings would end with a score of 101 runs off 94 balls, hitting 13 fours and two sixes along the way. Corbin Bosch dismissed Ayub in the 35th over, on a delivery that ricocheted off the Pakistani batter’s glove and into the hands of wicket-keeper Heinrich Klaasen.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam also had incredible knocks, scoring 53 and 52 runs respectively. Kwena Maphaka would dismiss Babar in the 23rd over on a delivery that the Pakistani batter slapped to midwicket, where David Miller was ready to take the catch. Rizwan would fall in the 38th, as Bjorn Fortuin’s delivery found the top edge of Rizwan’s bat, popping the ball up, giving Rabada ample time to jog from short third to take the catch.

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Pakistan would lose nine wickets on their way to scoring 309 runs, with Rabada leading the charge as he took three.

With a very defendable target, Pakistan’s bowlers got to work, with Sufiyan Muqeem being the stand out. Muqeem took four wickets, beginning with Aiden Markham, who was caught out by Kamran Ghulam at deep midwicket after the South African struck the ball with the toe end of his bat. Later, Muqeem would dismiss Marco Jansen. This time it was Ayub at midoff who took a catch.

Muqeem would get the final two wickets of the game in the 42nd over. First, Rabada would fail to get any bat on a delivery that struck him plumb on his front pad. Maphaka would replace Rabada after the lbw, and would be sent off for a golden duck, as Muqeem’s delivery slammed the stumps.  

Pakistan won by 36 runs after an incredible batting performance from Ayub, and a stellar bowling performance from Muqeem.

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