Johannesburg: In a crucial clash for the third One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, rain interrupted play shortly after Pakistan’s opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for a duck. This match, known as the Pink ODI, aims to raise awareness for breast cancer and was initially met with anticipation as South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Pakistan’s Top Order Struggles
Pakistan’s batting lineup faced early challenges as Abdullah Shafique’s poor form continued, marking his third consecutive duck in the series. He was quickly dismissed, leaving Babar Azam to join Saim Ayub at the crease. The two batters managed to guide the score to 10 runs before rain once again halted the match.
The unexpected downpour led the ground staff to cover the pitch, raising concerns about the match’s completion. Dark clouds loomed over the stadium, and the damp conditions cast uncertainty on the day’s proceedings. Earlier forecasts had predicted a cloudy day with a 45% chance of rain and a 27% likelihood of thunderstorms in the region.
Match Context and Expectations
Although Pakistan had already secured the ODI series with a commanding 2-0 lead, they were eager to finish strong before transitioning to a two-match Test series set to begin on December 26. Both teams were ready for what promised to be an exciting contest following a brief delay earlier in the day.
Pakistan made some changes to their squad for this match, including the introduction of Mohammad Hasnain, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir, while leaving out pacer Haris Rauf and spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Recap of Previous Match
In the second ODI, Pakistan triumphed over South Africa by 81 runs, showcasing their dominance in the series. Set a target of 330, South Africa made a decent start but faltered as they lost key wickets. Shaheen Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling attack with a stellar performance, taking four wickets, including the dismissals of David Miller, Marco Jansen, and Andile Phehlukwayo, to leave South Africa struggling at 205/7. Despite a valiant 97 from Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa was bowled out for 248.
Kamran Ghulam was named Player of the Match for his explosive 63 off just 32 balls, which helped Pakistan set a formidable total of 329/7. A solid partnership between Babar Azam (73) and Mohammad Rizwan (51) laid the foundation for their innings, while Ghulam’s late onslaught pushed the total higher in the final overs.
Looking Ahead
As the rain continues to fall in Johannesburg, fans remain hopeful that conditions will improve to allow play to resume. With an eye on the Test series ahead, both teams are eager to make the most of this final ODI. Whether Pakistan can bounce back after the early dismissal of Shafique and build a competitive total remains to be seen as the match progresses.
