Saim Ayoub, Salman power Pakistan to set South Africa target of 309-run in the third ODI

Saim Ayoub and Salman power Pakistan to set a target of 309 runs against South Africa in the third ODI being played at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on Sunday.

Saim Ayub smashed a blistering century, followed by half-centuries from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to help Pakistan post 308-9 in the match. The match, delayed due to rain, was reduced to 47 overs per side, adding an extra layer of challenge for both teams.

In a repeat of the second ODI, Pakistan were invited to bat first, and opening batter Abdullah Shafique walked back in the first over, registering his third consecutive duck.

Babar Azam joined Saim Ayub at the crease; however, they had to rush back due to rain, which reduced the match to 47 overs per side.

They resumed their innings after the rain break and built a solid partnership of 114 runs from 133 balls, during which they both reached their half-centuries.

However, Kwena Maphaka broke the stand as he removed Babar, who scored 52 runs from 71 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Saim was joined by skipper Mohammad Rizwan and they increased the scoring rate with their 93-run stand that conceded only 75 balls.

Saim fell prey to debutant Corbin Bosch right after reaching his century, going back with a quick 101-run knock from 94 balls, laced with 15 boundaries that included two sixes.

Rizwan departed soon after playing a 52-ball knock of 53 runs, which featured five boundaries and one six.

Salman Ali Agha then played a quick-fire knock of 48 runs from 33 balls and added a crucial partnership of 74 runs with Tayyab Tahir (28) before Kagiso Rabada ended his entertaining knock.

Rabada dismissed Shaheen Afridi on the first ball, which Marco Jansen removed Tayyab and Mohammad Hasnain (4) in the last over to restrict Pakistan to 308-9 in the allocated 47 overs.

Rabada led the wicket with three wickets, while Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin claimed two wickets each. Maphaka and Bosch contributed with one wicket each.

Pakistan enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and are aiming for a clean sweep, have made three changes to their Playing XI. 

Squads

South Africa: 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Bjorn Fortuin, 10 Kwena Maphaka, 11 Kagiso Rabada

Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Salman Ali, 6 Kamran Ghulam, 7 Tayyab Tahir, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Mohammad Hasnain, 11 Sufiyaan Muqeem