Faisalabad, Nov 8 (NationPress) Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed delivered an outstanding display by the Pakistan spinners with a remarkable four-wicket haul, dismissing South Africa for a mere 143 runs. This performance secured a series-clinching 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday.

Abrar Ahmed's impressive figures of 4-27 were pivotal, while Saim Ayub notched his third ODI half-century. Pakistan successfully chased down the target, scoring 144 for 3 in just 25.1 overs, sealing a comfortable seven-wicket triumph over South Africa. The victory, achieved with 24.5 overs remaining, marks one of Pakistan's largest winning margins in terms of overs and is also a significant achievement for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first outing as ODI captain.

Pakistan had initially won the first ODI by two wickets, but South Africa retaliated fiercely to claim the second match by eight wickets at the same venue. This concluded South Africa's multi-format tour of Pakistan, where they ended the two-Test series tied at 1-1, while losing both the T20I and ODI series by the same score of 2-1.

Opting to bat first, South Africa began well with Quinton de Kock (53 runs off 70 balls, including 6 fours and 1 six) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (39 runs off 45 balls, with 4 fours and 1 six) forming a 72-run opening partnership. However, Salman Ali Agha (2-18) ended this partnership in the 15th over, dismissing Pretorius, followed by Tony de Zorzi (2) in the 19th over, leaving South Africa at 87 for 2.

Mohammad Nawaz (2-31) trapped the top-scorer de Kock lbw in the 25th over, sparking a collapse as the visitors slid from 106 for 3 to 109 for 4 just four balls later, with Abrar clean-bowling debutant Rubin Hermann for just 1 run.

Two overs later, Abrar showcased his skill again, removing Donovan Ferreira (7) and Corbin Bosch in successive deliveries, leaving South Africa in a precarious position at 117 for 6. Nawaz contributed another wicket shortly after, dismissing Bjorn Fortuin.

South Africa's woes worsened when their captain Matthew Breetzke fell in the 34th over, edging one off Abrar to Mohammad Rizwan, who took a sharp catch, leaving South Africa at 130 for 8. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi then wrapped up the innings, bowling out South Africa for 143 in 37.5 overs.

For Pakistan, Abrar was the standout performer with his career-best figures of 4-27 in 10 overs. Nawaz, Agha, and Shaheen each took 2 wickets.

Pakistan chased down the modest target in just 25.1 overs, losing three wickets. Opening batsman Saim Ayub led the chase with a stellar 77 runs off 70 balls, featuring 11 fours and a six.

Saim formed a 64-run partnership with former captain Babar Azam (27 runs off 32 balls, 5 fours) for the second wicket and added 65 runs with Mohammad Rizwan (32 not out off 45 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six) for the third wicket.

For the visitors, Nandre Burger (1-29) and Bjorn Fortuin (1-34) each took one wicket.

Brief scores:

South Africa: 143 all out in 37.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 53, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 39; Abrar Ahmed 4-27, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-18, Salman Ali Agha 2-18, Mohammad Nawaz 2-31) lost to Pakistan: 144/3 in 25.1 overs (Saim Ayub 77, Mohammad Rizwan 32 not out; Nandre Burger 1-29, Bjorn Fortuin 1-34) by seven wickets.