Mohammad Rizwan’s Pakistan achieved a remarkable feat on December 22, by becoming the first team to whitewash South Africa at home in a bilateral ODI series. The brilliant 3-0 victory was sealed with a 36-run win (DLS method) at the iconic Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The victory saw the visitors’ dominance in all departments, with young opener Saim Ayub leading the charge with a brilliant century up the order.
The 22-year-old Ayub continued his brilliant form, scoring 101 off just 94 balls. Opening the innings, Ayub anchored Pakistan’s batting with two crucial partnerships, including 114 runs with Babar Azam (52 off 71) for the second wicket and 93 runs with captain Rizwan (53 off 52) for the third. Ayub’s innings, laced with 13 fours and two sixes, ensured the Men in Green set a huge total of 308/9 in a rain-affected 47-over match.
Despite losing Abdullah Shafique for a golden duck in the first over, the Men in Green’s middle order had a good day on the pitch. Salman Agha added 48 off 33 balls, while Tayyab Tahir chipped in with 28 runs during the slog overs. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, ending with figures of 3/56.
Chasing 308, the Proteas faced early setbacks as Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah removed the openers. Heinrich Klaasen once again dominated with the bat with his 81 off 43 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes. However, his dismissal by Afridi in the 29th over derailed South Africa’s chase.
Also Read: SA vs PAK 2024: Abdullah Shafique ends series with three consecutive ducks, enters list of unwanted record
Debutant Corbin Bosch (40*) tried to guide the lower order, but the opposition bowlers, particularly Sufiyan Muqeem (4/52), ensured the hosts fell short, and were eventually bundled for 271 in 42 overs.
Meanwhile, here’s how social media enthusiasts reacted to Pakistan’s dominant ODI series win over South Africa:
Winning moments…♥️🇵🇰
.#saimayub #SAvPAK #PakvsSA #Cricket #PakistanCricket #BabarAzam𓃵 #Pakistan #SAvsPAK #BabarAzam #SouthAfrica #PAKvsSA pic.twitter.com/LpSK613uJE— AD Choudhary (@adchoudhray) December 22, 2024
Clean Sweep🏏#SAvsPAK #BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvsSA #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/GnaWvaovRJ
— Faisal Naseer (@_FaisalNaseer_) December 22, 2024
WON PLAYER OF THE MATCH.🏅
WON PLAYER SERIES AWARD.🏅Last Night Saim Ayub Masterclass Innings Against South Africa To Help Pakistan For Whitewash South Africa In South Africa.👏🏆#PAKvsSA #PAKvSA #SAvPAK #SAvsPAK #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/yWpFaMgalE
— 𝐈 𝐒how 𝐂ricket 🏏🇮🇳 (@IShoCricket24X7) December 23, 2024
Saim Ayoub’s ton, Muqrems four fer seal historic whitewash for Pakistan.#SAvsPAK
— Education & Sports (@edusports_) December 23, 2024
Pakistan Whitewashed SouthAfrica Becoming 1st Team in History to do So.#PAKvSA #SaimAyub #BabarAzam𓃵 #BabarAzam #Rizwan #ShaheenShahAfridi #naseemshah #SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/SLLvah2ZRM
— Cricket Funny Memes For Fun Only (@cricketmemesJZ) December 23, 2024
First Team in the History to Whitewashe SA 🇿🇦 in SA 🇿🇦#PAKvsSA I #SAvsPAKpic.twitter.com/taXudLLW22
— DoctorofCricket (@CriccDoctor) December 22, 2024
Pakistan won by 36 runs
The first Captain in the history to whitewash South Africa in an ODI series in South Africa💫#PAKvsSA #MuhammadRizwan#SAvsPAK #SaimAyub #BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/3rVv6KWlno
— Fawad Khan (@fawad_alikhan) December 22, 2024
Klaasen is well and truly back 🔥#SAvsPAK pic.twitter.com/VHqwn1tC9i
— Sunrisers Army (@srhorangearmy) December 23, 2024