Centurion: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has hailed the series win by his team in South Africa after they defeated the hosts by 28 runs in the third and final one-day international in Centurion on Wednesday.
Taking to twitter, the 26-year old cricketer dedicated the win to home country and said that he was extremely proud of this ‘champion team’.
He made a special shout out to Fakhar Zaman for his remarkable innings.
Alhumdulillah, this series win is for you Pakistan. Extremely proud of this champion team. Special shout out to @FakharZamanLive his remarkable innings. Well played @OfficialCSA. #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/xsOaQzQ32t
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) April 7, 2021
Earlier yesterday, in the final game played at Centurion of the three matches One Day International (ODI) series, Pakistan beat South Africa by 28 runs and won series by 2-1.
Pakistan batted well upfront with the opening pair put on a 112-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Imam was dismissed for 57 runs. Fakhr Zaman and Babar Azam continued their excellent form, both played 101 and 94 runs innings respectively.
In the last over of the innings, Hassan Ali batted aggressively and hit four sixes taking the total to 320 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
While chasing the target the hosts began well in the chase with openers Janneman Malan and Aiden Markram putting up a 54-run stand for the opening wicket. But after Markram was dismissed, it triggered a collapse.
From 54/1 in 8.4 overs, Proteas were reduced to 140/5 in 27.3 overs. While Kyle Verreynne and Andile Phehlukwayo ceased the slide with a 108-run sixth-wicket stand. Their partnership raised hopes and kept South Africa in the game.
However, as Verreynne was dismissed by Haris Rauf in the 44th over, Phehlukwayo too departed soon, South Africa’s hopes of winning the match kept going narrower. In the end, Pakistan won the match to clinch the series 2-1.
Pakistan is the only side to beat South Africa at their home twice in the last 10 years.
In the match played at Centurion, the host team won the toss and invited the Green Shirts to bat first.
Four changes were made in the Pakistani side team for the third ODI. Sarfraz Ahmed returned to ODI cricket after 15 months.
Five key South African players Team de Kok, Rabada, Norkia, David Miller and Anne Genti missed today's match due to their participation in the IPL
In the first match of the series, Pakistan defeated South Africa by 3 wickets while South Africa won the second match by 17 runs.
