Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series — A Powerful Comeback
It was one of those games that tested every nerve — a match that Pakistan should’ve won easily but somehow turned into a heart-stopper. At the end of a tense evening in Faisalabad, Pakistan clinch thrilling win was the headline everyone expected, but it came after plenty of drama and a few late scares.
Chasing 264 against South Africa, Pakistan scraped through by two wickets with just a ball to spare. The win gave them a 1-0 lead in the series, but the journey there was anything but smooth.
Early Control from Pakistan’s Bowlers
South Africa’s innings started confidently. Quinton de Kock, back at the top, looked fluent as ever, while debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius impressed with a composed 57. The pair added 90 for the first wicket, taking full advantage of a flat Faisalabad pitch.
But the momentum changed once Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah found their rhythm. Abrar’s sharp turn and variations broke South Africa’s flow, while Naseem’s pace did the real damage in the death overs. Between them, they shared six wickets — Abrar taking 3 for 53 and Naseem 3 for 40 — to bowl the visitors out for 263.
It was a decent total but certainly below par for the surface. Pakistan knew it was chaseable, but they also knew early wickets could make things tricky.
A Confident Start and a Calm Middle
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub walked out with intent. From the very first over, it was clear they wanted to dominate. Boundaries came quickly, the running was sharp, and within 15 overs, Pakistan were cruising at 87 without loss.
Then came the familiar wobble.
Saim was the first to fall, beaten by Ferreira’s arm ball, and soon after, Fakhar holed out trying to clear long-on. The biggest blow, though, came when Bjorn Fortuin trapped Babar Azam lbw for 7. Suddenly, Pakistan’s smooth start turned into a cautious rebuild.
That’s when Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman stepped up. Rizwan, recently stripped of the ODI captaincy, played as if he had nothing to prove — just calm, composed, and confident. His 55 was all about smart shot selection and strike rotation. Agha Salman, on the other end, looked equally settled, reaching a fluent 62 that anchored the innings beautifully.
Their 91-run partnership steadied Pakistan’s chase. By the 38th over, the equation looked easy — 69 needed from 72 balls, seven wickets in hand. It should’ve been a walk in the park. Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series
Late Drama That Nobody Expected
But if you’ve followed Pakistan cricket long enough, you know nothing comes easy. Corbin Bosch dismissed Rizwan with a clever short ball, and that one wicket was enough to spark tension. The scoring rate dipped, boundaries dried up, and suddenly even singles felt like gold dust. Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series
Hussain Talat and Agha added 45 in cautious fashion, taking Pakistan close, but the moment Talat fell to a slower ball and Agha holed out to deep midwicket, the pressure came back. With only a handful of runs left, Hasan Nawaz’s rash charge down the track made things worse — stumped off a turning delivery.
When the dust settled, Pakistan still needed ten runs from seven balls, with only the tail left.
Mohammad Nawaz, ever the cool finisher, launched a clean six down the ground in the 49th over to swing the game back. Even though he was dismissed with the scores level, a leg bye off Naseem Shah’s pads ended the chase and the suspense. The crowd at Iqbal Stadium erupted in relief more than joy.
Match Summary
| Player | Runs | Wickets | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agha Salman | 62 | 1 | Anchored the chase under pressure |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 55 | – | Steady knock through middle overs |
| Fakhar Zaman | 41 | – | Fast start that set the tone |
| Saim Ayub | 38 | – | Confident batting in powerplay |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 12* | 1 | Crucial six at the end |
| Naseem Shah | – | 3 | Broke South Africa’s lower order |
| Abrar Ahmed | – | 3 | Controlled middle overs with spin |
| Quinton de Kock (SA) | 63 | – | Set up a solid platform |
| Pretorius (SA) | 57 | – | Good debut knock |
| Corbin Bosch (SA) | – | 2 | Picked key wickets late on |
| Bjorn Fortuin (SA) | – | 2 | Got Babar Azam early |
What Pakistan Did Right
Pakistan’s bowlers were brilliant in the second half of South Africa’s innings. Naseem’s pace and Abrar’s control gave the attack real bite. The top order, especially Fakhar and Saim, made sure the chase started strong. And Rizwan’s calm presence ensured there was no panic even after early wickets.
More importantly, Pakistan didn’t lose their nerve when the match got tight. That’s something fans haven’t always seen from them in recent years. Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series
Where They Can Improve
Still, there are lessons to take away. Babar’s lack of runs remains a talking point, and the lower order’s tendency to overcomplicate easy finishes nearly cost them. Pakistan’s running between wickets also needs tightening — too many mix-ups added unnecessary pressure.
If they want to dominate the series, they’ll need to close games more decisively.
South Africa’s Missed Chance
For South Africa, this will feel like one that got away. De Kock and Pretorius laid the groundwork perfectly, but their middle order failed to build on it. They’ll be particularly disappointed with how quickly they collapsed after being in control. Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series
With the ball, Bosch and Ngidi bowled with intent, but their spinners struggled to maintain pressure in the middle overs. Those small lapses made the difference.
Series Outlook
With this victory, Pakistan lead the series 1-0. The next ODI now becomes crucial for South Africa, who’ll look to bounce back hard. For Pakistan, it’s about keeping the momentum and fixing those late-match nerves before the second game.
For the fans, though, this was vintage Pakistan cricket — thrilling, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from. Once again, Pakistan clinch thrilling win perfectly captures the chaos and charm of how they play their best cricket. Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series — A Powerful Comeback
For complete scorecards and match updates, visit: Pakistan Clinch Thrilling Win to Lead 1-0 in ODI Series
👉 ESPN Cricinfo – Match Details
