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Pakistan Edges South Africa in Faisalabad Thriller to Win 1st ODI After 17-Year Wait
The Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad roared back to life, staging its first international cricket fixture in over 17 years today, Tuesday, November 4, 2025. In a gripping series opener, Pakistan held their nerve to defeat South Africa by two wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Innings 1: Proteas Stifled by Spin and Pace
Pakistan’s captain Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to bowl first. South Africa enjoyed a commanding start, with openers Quinton de Kock (63) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) building a formidable partnership that pushed the score close to 100 before the first wicket fell.
However, the home side’s bowlers delivered a superb comeback, entirely restricting the projected total. The attack was led by the young duo of Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed, both of whom claimed excellent figures of three wickets each. Crucially, Saim Ayub provided the essential breakthrough, dismissing one of the set openers and disrupting the momentum. The tight bowling restricted the visitors to a final score of 263 all out.
Innings 2: Agha and Rizwan Anchor the Nervous Finish
Chasing 264, Pakistan’s victory push was anchored by a resilient middle-order partnership. Though openers like Fakhar Zaman (45) provided a solid start, the chase was truly stabilized by Mohammad Rizwan (53) and Salman Ali Agha. Agha provided the main stay in the latter half of the innings, posting a vital 62 runs.
The match intensified dramatically in the final overs. Despite the South African bowlers taking late wickets to turn the contest into a tense battle, Pakistan’s tailenders managed to scratch out the required runs. The victory was clinched by two wickets with two balls remaining, successfully completing the highest chase at the venue since the return of international cricket.
Match Details Summary
| Element | Detail |
| Venue | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
| Result | Pakistan won by 2 wickets |
| Top Batsmen | Quinton de Kock (63) & Salman Ali Agha (62) |
| Top Bowlers | Naseem Shah (3 Wickets) & Abrar Ahmed (3 Wickets) |
For full match analysis and the preview of the second ODI, visit the ultimate cricket destination: www.crickethighlights.online
IMAGE CREDIT : CRIC 12
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