Pakistan's record-breaking run chase saw Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha score centuries, leading their team to their highest-ever successful ODI chase and securing a spot in the final of the ongoing Tri-Nation ODI Series.
Pakistan defeated Temba Bavuma’s South Africa by six wickets, successfully chasing down a challenging target of 353 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
The hosts made a strong start to their pursuit, reaching 138/3 after 21 overs. This marked the first time in 20 years that Pakistan scored more than 90 runs in the first 10 overs of an ODI, with 91 runs coming at the cost of two wickets. The last time Pakistan achieved this feat was in 2005, when Shahid Afridi led the charge in a memorable match against India in Kanpur.
The opening partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam laid a solid foundation for the chase, with Fakhar playing an aggressive knock of 41 off 28 balls, while Babar added a steady 23 runs off 19 balls. Their efforts helped Pakistan maintain a steady pace, ensuring that the chase remained on track after the first 10 overs.
However, the momentum shifted briefly when Pakistan lost three quick wickets, putting the team under pressure. It was at this point that Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Vice-Captain Salman Ali Agha took charge, steering the innings with a record-breaking 260-run partnership.
This stand surpassed the previous record of 228 runs set by Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez against Zimbabwe in 2011, setting a new benchmark for Pakistan’s highest partnership in an ODI run chase.
Rizwan and Agha’s partnership became the cornerstone of Pakistan’s chase, breaking their previous record of 349 runs set against Australia in Lahore in 2022.
The two middle-order batsmen became the first pair from positions 4 to 7 in Pakistan’s lineup to score centuries in the same ODI innings. This was the 27th instance in Pakistan’s ODI history of two batsmen scoring centuries in the same match. Had Salman Agha remained unbeaten, it would have marked the first occasion of two unbeaten centuries for Pakistan in an ODI.
With the daunting 353-run target in sight, Rizwan remained not out on 122 off 128 balls, while Agha finished with 134 runs off 103 balls. Their combined efforts led Pakistan to a record-breaking victory, with the team completing the chase with six balls to spare, losing four wickets along the way.
This remarkable achievement secured Pakistan’s place in the final of the Tri-Nation ODI Series, where the hosts will face New Zealand on Friday.
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