Johannesburg, December 23,2024: Pakistan handed South Africa their first-ever ODI series whitewash on home soil, winning the rain-affected third ODI by 36 runs at the Wanderers. The star of the show was Saim Ayub, whose stunning all-round performance sealed the historic result.
Ayub notched his second century of the series, scoring a composed 101, and contributed with the ball, claiming figures of 1 for 34. Debutant wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem further exposed South Africa’s struggles against spin, taking 4 for 52 in a match-winning spell.
The defeat caps a dismal year for South Africa in ODIs, having won just one of three series in 2024. Under white-ball coach Rob Walter, they’ve managed only two series victories out of six since February 2023. Pakistan, on the other hand, celebrated their fifth consecutive bilateral series win, following triumphs over New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe.
Saim Ayub’s exceptional form in South Africa continued as he followed his earlier knocks of 109 and 98* with a crucial 101 in Johannesburg. His 114-run partnership with Babar Azam for the second wicket and a 93-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan for the third laid a solid foundation for Pakistan.
Babar (60) and Rizwan (50) both registered half-centuries, while Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir added a quickfire 74-run partnership off just 47 balls to propel Pakistan past the 300-run mark. Despite mini-collapses in the death overs, Pakistan posted a competitive 307 in their reduced 47 overs.
South Africa’s bowlers struggled for consistency. While Kagiso Rabada impressed early on, finishing with 3 for 56, the rest of the attack leaked runs. Marco Jansen conceded 58 in nine overs, while debutant Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka were costly, conceding 119 runs between them.
Chasing a revised target of 308 in 47 overs, South Africa faltered despite a fighting half-century from Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen, who scored fifties in all three matches, was the series’ top scorer with an average of 88.00. However, he lacked support, with Corbin Bosch’s 40 on debut providing the only other resistance.
South Africa’s top order woes persisted, as Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi were dismissed cheaply. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen added 80 runs for the third wicket, but Markram’s dismissal to Muqeem’s first ball triggered a collapse.
David Miller’s uncharacteristic dismissal further compounded South Africa’s troubles, as Rizwan’s sharp catch at leg slip removed him for just 14. Klaasen fought valiantly, hitting four boundaries in an over off Shaheen Afridi, but his dismissal for 54 effectively ended South Africa’s hopes.
Muqeem’s incisive spell cleaned up the tail, dismissing Rabada and Maphaka in successive deliveries to seal South Africa’s fate.
This historic whitewash highlights the mounting concerns for South Africa ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. Their inability to handle spin and inconsistency with both bat and ball remain glaring issues. For Pakistan, however, the series win reinforces their growing dominance in bilateral cricket, with players like Ayub and Muqeem stepping up when it matters most.
