Pakistan defeated South Africa by 28 runs to take the third match and series. This is Pakistan’s second ODI series win against the Proteas away from home. Muhammad Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 34 while Haris Rauf tightned the screws at the end with miserly spell. Kyle Verryenne was the top scorer with 63.
Another century by Fakhar Zaman helped Pakistan set a 321-run target for South Africa to win the third and final One Day International despite a middle-order collapse in Centurion on Wednesday.
Put into to bat, Pakistan scored 320 runs for the loss of seven wickets thanks to Fakhar Zaman, skipper Babar Azam who missed a ton by six runs and Imam-ul-Haq.
Babar missed what could be his 14th ODI century to a top edge catch at point boundary off the last ball of the innings.
Opener Fakhar Zaman continued his dream run with his sixth ODI hundred before falling to Keshav Maharaj.
The left-hander, who had played a gem of an innings the other day, brought up his century in the 35th over and sent back for 101 in the next over.
His opening partner Imam-ul-Haq scored his ninth ODI half-century before holing to long-on in the 22nd over. He scored 57. This was his second falf century of the series.
Meanwhile, a 32-run cameo by Hasan Ali helped past 300. He hit four sixes.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz failed to post big scores.
Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers with the wickets of Fakhar, Imam and Rizwan.
Pakistan were off to a solid start as the opening batting duo enjoyed a 112-run partnership before Maharaj got the first breakthrough.
Earlier, the home side decided to play without its six key players; Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, who left for the Indian Premier League while Rassie van der Dussen was ruled out due to injury.
Four changes were made to the Pakistan’s squad as well with Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir and Hasan Ali coming in for Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.
