SA vs PAK 2024/25, South Africa vs Pakistan 1st ODI, Paarl Match Report, 17 Dec 2024

Pakistan 242 for 7 (Ayub 109, Agha 82*, Baartman 2-37) batted South Africa 239 for 9 (Klaasen 86, Agha 4-32, Abrar 2-32) with 3 wickets

Pakistan’s long tail continues to be a problem and Irfan Khan’s childhood ailments continue, so when the visitors found themselves at 60 for 4 in the 20th over, the Ayub-Agha partnership was their last realistic shot at an unlikely victory. South Africa had the chance to slam the door in Pakistan’s face, but when Agha bowled Aiden Markram at 6, Heinrich Klaasen fired over a sharp chance.

Gradually, imperceptibly at first, Pakistan began to claw their way back into the game. Ayub, who until then had scraped uncharacteristically at 31 off 57 at one point, began to find regular singles and doubles, as well as the occasional boundary. Agha is perhaps ideally suited to such roles, possessing the ability to squeeze out runs, even if power does not come naturally to him.

As South Africa’s intensity and quality in the field declined, the partnership steadily built, creeping past 50 and eventually striding past three figures. Ayub, now working his way into the kind of flair he is naturally known for, turned the tables on Baartman, whose tally up until then read 5-2-9-2. Two sixes and two fours brought the asking rate back down to under a run a ball before Ayub hit Rabada for a majestic six over midwicket to bring up his second ODI hundred in three innings.

But with a long tail there was the inevitable risk. Ayub had played with fire and helped it to the deep-third and fine-leg boundaries, eventually ending up going out to the latter. Kagiso Rabada, sensing his opportunity, priced Irfan four deliveries later and South Africa were on Pakistan’s tail.

Tabraiz Shamsi made short work of Shaheen Afridi but Naseem and Agha realized that the asking rate was under control and methodically set about crossing the last couple of runs. There was occasional craziness, but Agha showed the steel that has stood him out since integrating so effectively into the team. He picked his moment and hit Shamsi over the top for a six that brought the asking rate back under control. In the end, all Pakistan needed were singles and there was still time to finish with a flourish as Agha drove Jansen down the ground to seal victory.

Agha’s burst of bowling was as sudden as it was unexpected. Openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton drove on in the first powerplay with over seven runs apiece. over which made it easy to work with Shaheen and Naseem’s opening form without seeming to take any risk. Rizwan may have only introduced Agha into the attack to break the momentum, but it turned out to be an inspired choice.

Within four overs, South Africa’s batting line-up – as well as their position of advantage – was cut to ribbons. It all started when Agha made one slide into de Zorzi and catch him in front; no review was necessary. Rickleton chipped one of him in his over, but Agha would save his best for last. With the new batsmen suddenly unable to read him, either off the pitch or out of hand, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs played for turn that wasn’t there and heard the rattle of their stump being bounced back .

Sensing that spin found surprise purchase here, Rizwan brought out the entire cavalry. Before long, Abrar Ahmed was breaking through, while Ayub and Ghulam each took turns. But Markram and Klaasen slowly started to fight back from Pakistan and ticked on through the middle overs hoping to hang on before going big at the death. But they knew the innings was being played on a tightrope without a seat belt and it took a mistake on an Ayub long bounce from Markram to knock them off it.

With Jansen struggling badly throughout his innings, it was left to Klaasen to salvage what he could from what was left. Pakistan’s sailors were also at their disciplined, spirited best. The Jansen-Klaasen stand made it 50, but Jansen had managed just 10 of 27, and only got that far thanks to a big doll put down by Haris Rauf. Klaasen tried to keep hammering away and would have fully deserved a fifth ODI hundred, but Shaheen too deserved a wicket. It came via a beauty that seamed in and beat back the middle stump of Klaasen; the rattle may well have been the final nail in the coffin for the hosts’ innings.

Kagiso Rabada and Ottniel Baartman limped along in the final couple of overs and added 21 for the 9th wicket, but by then Pakistan had done much of the damage through Agha. With Ayub, they would see to it that the job was finished in a game the two dominated so thoroughly that when Agha was awarded man of the match, he would invite Ayub to take it from him instead.