Pakistan has made history by becoming the first team to sweep South Africa in an ODI series on South African soil. This is a historic moment for Pakistan cricket, and it is a major sign of a significant achievement in their future cricketing journey.
Pakistan’s cricket team has made history by becoming the first team to clean-sweep South Africa in a home ODI series. They achieved this milestone after a 3-0 victory with a thrilling 36-run win in the final match on Sunday. This remarkable achievement is a confidence boost for the Greenshirts ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
In a rain-affected match at The Wanderers, Pakistan posted a competitive 308/9 in 47 overs, thanks to a sensational century by opener Saim Ayub. The left-hander scored 101 off 94 balls—his second ton of the series. He was backed by solid contributions from skipper Mohammad Rizwan (53), Babar Azam (52), and Salman Agha (48).
The Proteas, chasing a revised target of 308 via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, faltered as Pakistan’s bowlers took wickets at crucial moments. Saim Ayub also shone with the ball, picking up David Miller’s key wicket with his economical spell of 1/34. Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was the standout bowler, grabbing 4/52 and dismantling South Africa’s tail in the 42nd over.
Heinrich Klaasen continued his lone fight for the hosts, scoring his third half-century of the series, but lacked support. South Africa were bowled out with five overs to spare, marking their worst ODI series defeat on home soil.
Saim Ayub’s spectacular form has been the highlight of the series. With two centuries against South Africa and one against Zimbabwe earlier, the young left-hander has established himself as Pakistan’s new batting sensation. “I’m happy to contribute to the team’s success,” Ayub said after the game.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s collective effort. “Everyone contributed, from batters to bowlers. Saim was outstanding, and our bowlers stepped up when needed,” Rizwan remarked.
Historic Series
This clean sweep is part of a growing trend of dominance for Pakistan in South Africa. The team has now won three ODI series there, having triumphed in 2013, 2021, and 2024. Pakistan also became the first Asian team to achieve this milestone.
The series win was celebrated by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He congratulated the team on their outstanding performance and expressed optimism for their success in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Looking Ahead
The two teams now shift focus to a two-match Test series starting Thursday in Pretoria, where South Africa will look to redeem themselves and secure a spot in the World Test Championship final.
With this emphatic win, Pakistan has sent a strong message to the cricketing world: they are peaking at just the right time!
