Pakistan 242 for 7 wickets (Ayub 109, Agha 82*, Bartman 2-37) defeated South Africa 239 for 9 (Klaasen 86, Aga 4-32, Abrar 2-32) by 3 wickets
Pakistan’s long tail remains a problem, and Irfan Khan’s early problems continued, so when the visitors reached 60 for 4 in the 20th over, the Ayub-Agha partnership was their last realistic shot at an unexpected win. . South Africa had a chance to slam the door on Pakistan, but when Agha dismissed Aiden Markram for 6, Heinrich Klaasen provided a quick chance.
Slowly, initially imperceptibly, Pakistan started to make a comeback in the game. Ayub, who by then had unsurprisingly been reduced to 31 out of 57 at one stage, began to find regular singles and doubles as well as the occasional boundary. Agha is probably ideally suited to that kind of role, he has the smarts to score runs, even if power hitting doesn’t come naturally to him.
As South Africa’s intensity and quality declined in the field, the partnership continued to rise, moving past 50 and eventually crossing the three-figure mark. Ayub, who by now had worked in the style for which he is naturally known, opened the charge against Bartman, whose figures till then stood at 5-2-9-2. Two sixes and two fours brought the asking rate back under one run, before Ayub smashed Rabada for a brilliant six over midwicket to bring up his second ODI century in three innings.
But with a long tail, there was inevitable risk. Ayub was playing with fire and helping him reach deep-third and fine-leg boundaries, and was eventually out to the latter. Sensing his opportunity, Kagiso Rabada dismissed Irfan after four balls and South Africa came into Pakistan’s court.
Tabraiz Shamsi made short work of Shaheen Afridi, but Naseem and Aga realized that the asking rate was under control, and kept the final few runs ticking away systematically. There was occasional hysteria, but Agha has demonstrated the strength that has made him stand out since he integrated himself into the team so effectively. He changed the situation by hitting Shamsi for a six, which brought the asking rate back under control. By the end, Pakistan needed only singles, and still had time to finish with prosperity when Agha pushed Jansen back down the field to seal the win.
Agha’s rise to bowling prominence was as sudden as it was unexpected. Openers Tony De Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton were cruising at more than seven runs an over in the first powerplay, allowing Shaheen and Naseem to make light of the opening spells without taking any risks. Rizwan might have included Agha in the attack only to break the momentum, but it proved to be an inspired choice.
Within four overs, South Africa’s batting line-up collapsed as well as their lead position. It all started when the Aga asked one to sneak into De Zorzi and trap him in the front; No review was necessary. Rickleton clipped one run from him in his next over, but Agha saved his best for last. With the new batsmen unable to understand him suddenly out of the pitch or out of hand, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs played for turn that wasn’t there, and heard the rattle of their off-stump sliding towards the back.
Rizwan realized that Spin was getting surprising purchase here, and brought out the entire cavalry. Soon, Abrar Ahmed was leading the way, while Ayub and Ghulam got their chances in turns. But Markram and Klaasen were slowly starting to take control of Pakistan, ticking away in the middle overs, hoping to hold on before coming up big in the death overs. But they knew the innings was being played on the ropes without any protection, and Markram’s long lunge off Ayub brought him down.
With Jensen struggling badly throughout his innings, it was left to Klaasen to salvage what he could of what was left. Pakistan’s fast bowlers were also at their best, disciplined and enthusiastic. The Jensen-Klaasen stand took it to 50, but Jensen managed only 10 off 27, and only got that far thanks to a brilliant performance from Haris Rauf. Klaasen tried to keep the batting going and would have fully deserved his fifth ODI century, but Shaheen also deserved a wicket. It came through a beauty, seaming and knocking into Klaasen’s middle stump; This rattle could prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the host team’s innings.
Kagiso Rabada and Otneil Bartman faltered in the last few overs and added 21 runs for the 9th wicket, but Pakistan had done a lot of damage by then through Agha. Along with Ayub, he would ensure that the job was finished in a game which the two dominated so thoroughly that when Agha was awarded Player of the Match, he asked Ayub to take it in his place. Invited.
Daniel Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @danny61000
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