PAK vs SA: Saim Ayub joins Virat Kohli in exclusive club

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub delivered another stellar performance, smashing a match-winning 101 off 94 balls to help Pakistan secure a historic 3-0 series whitewash over South Africa in the third ODI at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.  

The rain-affected match, reduced to 47 overs per side, saw South Africa fall 36 runs short of the 308-run target, getting bowled out for 271 in 42 overs despite a valiant effort by Heinrich Klaasen.  

Ayub's brilliant knock, his second century of the series, earned him a place in an elite group of overseas batters who have scored multiple ODI centuries in South Africa. The exclusive list includes cricketing greats like Virat Kohli, David Warner, Joe Root, Fakhar Zaman, and Kevin Pietersen. Saim’s remarkable form also contributed to Pakistan becoming the first team to whitewash South Africa in an ODI series on their home turf.  

After losing Abdullah Shafique early, Ayub anchored Pakistan’s innings with pivotal partnerships. He added 114 runs with Babar Azam (52) for the second wicket and 93 runs with Mohammad Rizwan (53) for the third. His innings featured 13 boundaries and two towering sixes, showcasing his aggressive yet calculated approach. His knock ended when he edged debutant Corbin Bosch to the keeper, but not before setting the stage for Pakistan’s commanding total.  

In South Africa’s reply, Klaasen kept the chase alive with a blistering 81 off 43 balls, supported by Bosch’s unbeaten 40. However, debutant wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem’s 4/52 exposed the home side’s vulnerability against spin, ensuring Pakistan’s victory.  

The series concluded with Pakistan triumphing in all three matches. They clinched the first ODI with a thrilling three-wicket win and dominated the second with an 81-run victory, showcasing their all-round superiority throughout the series.