Tri-Nation Series: Pakistan smash records with win against South Africa

KARACHI: In a high-stakes encounter of the Tri-Nation ODI series, Pakistan orchestrated a stunning run chase, overhauling a formidable 353-run target to defeat South Africa by six wickets at the National Bank Stadium, shattering multiple records along the way.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Vice-Caption Salman Ali Agha etched their names in history as they became the first pair of middle-order batsmen, positions 4 to 7, from Pakistan to score centuries in the same innings.

Their heroics powered Pakistan to their highest-ever successful chase in one-day internationals, breaking their previous chase of 349 against Australia in Lahore in 2022.

Batting at number 4th, Rizwan remained unbeaten on 122, while Salman, at number five, scored 134. The duo put on a record 260-run partnership for the fourth wicket, surpassing the previous best of 206 runs set by Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf against India in 2009.

Overall, this was the 27th instance of two Pakistan batsmen scoring centuries in an ODI innings. Had Salman remained not out, it would have marked the first occasion of two unbeaten hundreds in an innings for Pakistan.

Chasing a daunting 353-run target at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, the home side knocked the winning runs for the loss of four wickets and six balls to spare.

Pakistan, however, had a contrasting start to the pursuit as their ace batter Babar Azam continued to struggle in his role as an opener and was dismissed by Wiaan Mulder on the first delivery of the seventh over.

The right-handed batter scored 23 off 19 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.

Pakistan’s in-form opener Fakhar Zaman then stitched a brief 36-run partnership for the second wicket with Saud Shakeel before both perished in quick succession, bringing the total down to 91/3 in 10.4 overs.

Fakhar scored 41 off 28 deliveries with the help of six fours and a six, while Saud made a 16-ball 15.

Following the slump, Salman Ali Agha joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle and turned the game on its head by recording the highest partnership for Pakistan in an ODI run chase.

The duo added a record 260 runs for the fourth wicket until Lungi Ngidi got rid of Salman on the fifth delivery of the penultimate over.

Agha top-scored for Pakistan with 134 off 103 deliveries, studded with 16 fours and two sixes.

Rizwan, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 122 off 128 deliveries, laced with nine fours and three sixes.

For South Africa, Mulder bagged two wickets, while Ngidi and Corbin Bosch made one scalp apiece.