Pakistan set hosts South Africa a target of 321 runs in the final match of the Pak-SA ODI series. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam scored the major chunk of runs for Pakistans with the left-handed opener smashing 101 runs and the captain seeing off the innings with 94 runs under his belt.
Keshav Maharaj picked up three wickets for the home side and Aiden Markram bested two Pakistani batsmen in his 10-over quota.
Fakhar Zaman scored 101 runs off 104 balls after Temba Bavuma won the toss and put Pakistan into bat at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. His innings included three sixes and nine fours. He was dismissed by Maharaj. Pakistan were 206/2 in 36 overs.
Temba Bavuma said at the toss, “We looked at overhead conditions and we think in the morning their might be a bit of swing to exploit. Defending here on the Highveld is a challenge.”
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said, “The wicket is very good. We are aiming for 300.We have left the previous match behind. Today’s match is very important. We have four changes. A lot of experience players come in.”
Legspinner Usman Qadir, son of the late Abdul Qadir, makes his ODI debut for Pakistan while Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali have also been included in the playing XI.
The three-match series is level 1-1 as the Green Shirts had won the first game by three wickets while the Proteas emerged victorious in the thrilling second encounter by seventeen runs.
