Pakistan 242 for 7 (Ayub 109, Agha 82*, Baartman 2-37) beat South Africa 239 for 9 (Klaasen 86, Agha 4-32, Abrar 2-32) by 3 wickets
Pakistan’s lengthy tail continues to be an issue, and Irfan Khan’s teething drawback continues, so when the guests discovered themselves at 60 for 4 within the twentieth over, the Ayub-Agha partnership was their final real looking shot at an unlikely victory. South Africa had the prospect to slam the door in Pakistan’s face, however when Agha nicked off to Aiden Markram on 6, Heinrich Klaasen shelled a pointy likelihood.
Steadily, imperceptibly at first, Pakistan started to claw their manner again into the sport. Ayub, who had till then scrapped uncharacteristically to 31 off 57 at one stage, started to search out common singles and doubles, in addition to the occasional boundary. Agha is maybe ideally fitted to that form of function, possessing the wile to squeeze out runs even when the facility hitting does not come naturally to him.
As South Africa’s depth and high quality within the area dropped, the partnership steadily constructed, sneaking previous 50, and ultimately striding previous three figures. Ayub, who had by now labored his manner into the kind of aptitude that he is naturally identified for, turned the screw in opposition to Baartman, whose figures till then learn 5-2-9-2. Two sixes and two fours introduced the asking charge again down beneath a run a ball earlier than Ayub slapped Rabada for an imposing six over midwicket to carry up his second ODI hundred in three innings.
However with a protracted tail, there was the inevitable threat. Ayub had been enjoying with hearth serving to it to the deep-third and fine-leg boundaries, and ultimately ended up holing out to the latter. Kagiso Rabada, sensing his alternative, prised out Irfan 4 deliveries later, and South Africa have been into Pakistan’s tail.
Tabraiz Shamsi made quick work of Shaheen Afridi, however Naseem and Agha realised the asking charge was beneath management, and went about ticking the previous few runs off methodically. There was the occasional frenzy, however Agha displayed the metal that has stood him out since he built-in himself so successfully into the crew. He picked his second, slapping Shamsi excessive for a six that introduced the asking charge again beneath management. By the tip, all Pakistan wanted have been singles, and there was nonetheless time to complete with a flourish when Agha drove Jansen again down the bottom to seal the win.
Agha’s burst into bowling prominence was as sudden because it was sudden. Openers Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton have been coasting alongside within the first powerplay at over seven runs per over, making gentle work of Shaheen and Naseem’s opening spell with out showing to take any dangers. Rizwan could solely have launched Agha into the assault to interrupt up the momentum, however it turned out to be an impressed alternative.
Inside 4 overs, South Africa’s batting line-up – in addition to their place of benefit – was reduce to ribbons. All of it started when Agha bought one to skid into de Zorzi and entice him in entrance; no overview was mandatory. Rickleton chopped one on off from him in his following over, however Agha would save his greatest for final. With the brand new batters instantly unable to learn him both off the pitch or out of the hand, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs performed for flip that wasn’t there, and heard the rattle of their off stump being knocked again.
Rizwan sensed spin was discovering shock buy right here, and introduced out the total cavalry. Earlier than lengthy, Abrar Ahmed was powering via, whereas Ayub and Ghulam every bought turns. However Markram and Klaasen have been slowly starting to wrestle management again from Pakistan, ticking alongside via the center overs, hoping to carry out earlier than going huge on the loss of life. However they knew the innings was being performed on a tightrope with no security harness, and it took a miscue off an Ayub lengthy hop from Markram to topple them off it.
With Jansen struggling badly all through his innings, it was left to Klaasen to salvage what he might from what was left. Pakistan’s seamers have been at their disciplined, spirited greatest, too. That Jansen-Klaasen stand made it to 50, however Jansen had managed a mere 10 off 27, and solely bought that far due to the largesse of a dolly Haris Rauf put down. Klaasen tried to proceed hammering away, and would have absolutely deserved a fifth ODI hundred, however Shaheen, too, deserved a wicket. It got here by way of a magnificence, seaming in and knocking again the center stump of Klaasen; the rattle could effectively have been the ultimate nail within the coffin for the hosts’ innings.
Kagiso Rabada and Ottniel Baartman hobbled alongside for the previous few overs, including 21 for the ninth wicket, however Pakistan had inflicted a lot of the injury by then via Agha. With Ayub, they might see to it that the job was completed in a sport the 2 dominated so totally that when Agha was awarded the Participant of the Match, he would invite Ayub to take it off him as a substitute.
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000