Pakistan’s record-breaking run chase noticed Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha rating centuries, main their crew to their highest-ever profitable ODI chase and securing a spot within the remaining of the continuing Tri-Nation ODI Collection.
Pakistan defeated Temba Bavuma’s South Africa by six wickets, efficiently chasing down a difficult goal of 353 on the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi.
The hosts made a robust begin to their pursuit, reaching 138/3 after 21 overs. This marked the primary time in 20 years that Pakistan scored greater than 90 runs within the first 10 overs of an ODI, with 91 runs coming at the price of two wickets. The final time Pakistan achieved this feat was in 2005, when Shahid Afridi led the cost in a memorable match in opposition to India in Kanpur.
The opening partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam laid a stable basis for the chase, with Fakhar taking part in an aggressive knock of 41 off 28 balls, whereas Babar added a gentle 23 runs off 19 balls. Their efforts helped Pakistan preserve a gentle tempo, making certain that the chase remained on monitor after the primary 10 overs.
Nonetheless, the momentum shifted briefly when Pakistan misplaced three fast wickets, placing the crew underneath strain. It was at this level that Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Vice-Captain Salman Ali Agha took cost, steering the innings with a record-breaking 260-run partnership.
This stand surpassed the earlier document of 228 runs set by Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez in opposition to Zimbabwe in 2011, setting a brand new benchmark for Pakistan’s highest partnership in an ODI run chase.
Rizwan and Agha’s partnership turned the cornerstone of Pakistan’s chase, breaking their earlier document of 349 runs set in opposition to Australia in Lahore in 2022.
The 2 middle-order batsmen turned the primary pair from positions 4 to 7 in Pakistan’s lineup to attain centuries in the identical ODI innings. This was the twenty seventh occasion in Pakistan’s ODI historical past of two batsmen scoring centuries in the identical match. Had Salman Agha remained unbeaten, it will have marked the primary event of two unbeaten centuries for Pakistan in an ODI.
With the daunting 353-run goal in sight, Rizwan remained not out on 122 off 128 balls, whereas Agha completed with 134 runs off 103 balls. Their mixed efforts led Pakistan to a record-breaking victory, with the crew finishing the chase with six balls to spare, dropping 4 wickets alongside the best way.
This outstanding achievement secured Pakistan’s place within the remaining of the Tri-Nation ODI Collection, the place the hosts will face New Zealand on Friday.