PAKvSA – Babar Azam stars as Pakistan beat South Africa in last-ball thriller

GAUTENG – Pakistan on Friday remained victorious in the first ODI at Centurion, winning the match by three wickets. 

Green Shirts on Friday won the toss and opted to field first.

The match started at 1:00 pm as per Pakistan’s standard time.

Two wickets in an over for @iShaheenAfridi 🙌 #SAvPAK #HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/O8rUB1hYdo

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 2, 2021

South Africa has not played an ODI since completing a home series against Australia in March 2020.

Pakistan win the toss and elect to field! #SAvPAK #HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/bA6Y5Uvuyd

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 2, 2021

Meanwhile, captain and skipper Babar Azam in high spirits said Pakistan will play ‘fearless’ cricket in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. If one of top-order batsmen stays till the end, it becomes easier to achieve a big target. I have complete faith in my bowling line-up that is capable of restricting the best batsmen to a low total. Shaheen, Hasnain, Harris, and Hasan all have the ability to take wickets,” Azam said Thursday while speaking in a briefing.

For the Proteas, former skipper Faf du Plessis was dropped after he indicated a willingness to continue to represent South Africa in white-ball cricket.

Team Pakistan

Pakistan ODI: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir

Team South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad Williams.

Schedule:

1st ODI – April 02 – Friday – SuperSport Park, Centurion

2nd ODI – April 04 – Sunday – The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

3rd ODI – April 07 – Wednesday – SuperSport Park, Centurion

1st T20I – April 10 – Saturday – The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

2nd T20I – April 12 – Monday – The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

3rd T20I – April 14 – Wednesday – SuperSport Pak, Centurion

4th T20I – April 16 – Friday – SuperSport Park, Centurion