Pakistan create history with 3-0 whitewash over South Africa in SA vs PAK 2024 ODI series
The Pakistan Men's Cricket Team created history on Sunday, December 22, when they defeated South Africa by 36 runs via the DLS method in the third ODI in Johannesburg. Having already won the first two games of the three-match series, Mohammad Rizwan's men whitewashed the hosts 3-0 at the Wanderers Stadium to clinch the series. Thereby, they became the first team to whitewash the Proteas on their home soil in the ODIs.
In the third match, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first in the rain-affected 47-overs-a-side contest. Put into bat, the visitors got off to a disastrous start, losing opener Abdullah Shafique for a duck on just the second ball of their innings. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam then set the foundation for a big total with a 114-run second-wicket partnership.
After Babar's dismissal, Saim joined hands with captain Mohammad Rizwan and the duo put up another crucial partnership of 93 runs for the third wicket. Powered by Saim's century and half-centuries from Babar and Rizwan, Pakistan posted 308-9 in their 47 overs.
Chasing 308, South Africa could only manage 271 runs, as they were bowled out in 42 overs thereby losing the third ODI by 36 runs and the series by a 3-0 margin. Debutant left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with the figures of 4/52 in eight overs. Saim Ayub was adjudged both Player of the Match and the Series for his heroics with the bat.
South Africa clinched the T20 series by a 2-0 margin against Pakistan
Pakistan's all-format tour of South Africa kicked off on December 10 with the three-match T20 series. The Heinrich Klaasen-led side won the first two matches in Durban and Centurion and clinched the series 2-0 after the third game in Johannesburg was abandoned without even a ball being bowled due to incessant rain.
With Pakistan now registering a historic whitewash in the ODI series, the focus will shift towards Test matches which are set to begin on the Boxing Day (December 26) in Centurion. The second and final Test match will begin at the Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, January 3, 2025.