KARACHI: Pakistan convincingly won the ODI series in South Africa against the home side after seven years courtesy to Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman.
There was a lot of gratitude and wild celebration for the Men in Green on social media and in the cricketing community on Wednesday after Pakistan overcame South Africa by 28 runs to become the only Asian team to win an ODI series twice in that country.
Pakistan took a 2-1 series lead in Centurion as opener Fakhar Zaman scored his second century in as many games during the third and final one-day international.
Thanks to a fantastic 193 from Fakhar on Sunday, Pakistan scored 320 for seven in their 50 overs after being put in to bat. Hasan Ali (32 not out from 11 balls) and captain Babar Azam (94 from 82 balls) provided a significant late assist to his superb effort.
South Africa, who had lost five important players—Quintin de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi—en route to the Indian Premier League, were dismissed for 292 in the last over.
Pakistan has only triumphed in an ODI series in South Africa twice, with the first series being in 2013, according to cricket writer Saj Sadiq.
Pakistan’s “impressive” pace assault was praised by presenter Zainab Abbas, who also said that the win serves as “a timely reminder that Fakhar Zaman is still a matchwinner; hopefully can stay consistent”.
Shehryar Afridi, a PTI parliamentarian, credited “hard work, passion, and commitment” for Pakistan’s victory. According to him, it is “a gigantic achievement” for Babar to overtake Indian sensation Virat Kohli in the rankings.
Jibran Nasir, an activist and lawyer, praised the Pakistani squad for a “well-fought series win”.
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