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Tour Concludes: Spent South Africa Battles Isolation as Pakistan Clinches ODI Series
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Tour Concludes: Spent South Africa Battles Isolation as Pakistan Clinches ODI Series
The extensive South Africa tour of Pakistan 2025 ended with a conclusive seven-wicket victory for the home side in the 3rd ODI at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. The loss, which sealed Pakistan’s first-ever home ODI series win against the Proteas (2-1), brought to an end a challenging 32-day stint characterized by strict security and continuous hotel confinement.
Final Match Collapse and Abrar’s Brilliance
The series decider saw a dramatic batting failure from South Africa. Their innings featured a rapid collapse, losing 10 wickets for only 71 runs after the 15th over, resulting in a final score of 143 all out in 37.5 overs.
- The Turning Point: The decisive spell belonged to spinner Abrar Ahmed, who exploited the tricky Faisalabad surface—which offered movement, turn, and inconsistent bounce—to take a career-best 4 wickets for 27 runs.
- De Kock’s Fight: Despite the team failure, Quinton de Kock managed a patient 53 off 70 balls, later earning the Player of the Series award for his consistent performance under challenging conditions.
Pakistan comfortably chased the small target with 149 balls remaining, powered by Saim Ayub’s steady 77 off 70 and a crucial partnership with Babar Azam (27).
The Psychological Toll of the Tour
Assistant Coach Shukri Conrad and batsman Tony de Zorzi both addressed the psychological impact of the restrictive nature of the tour. While deeply appreciative of the hosts’ hospitality, de Zorzi admitted the continuous isolation was a “grind.”
“You can’t leave the hotel, so you get into a routine,” De Zorzi explained. “Our rooms can sometimes feel like a dungeon.”
He noted the players’ need to rely on the support staff (“the glue that keeps us together”) and simple team activities like card games and reading to combat isolation. For players accustomed to free movement, the constant presence of security vehicles heightened the difficulty of the long stay.
Tour Outcome and Future Focus
Despite the final defeat, the Proteas showed resilience, taking both the T20I and ODI series to deciding games and drawing the Test series. De Kock summarized the experience perfectly:
“It was tough, but it was a good experience. I learned a few things about my own game.” The team now prepares to leave, carrying home valuable lessons from the subcontinental conditions.
For full analysis and historical context of Pakistan’s series win, visit the ultimate cricket destination: www.crickethighlights.online
Image Credits : cricbuzz
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