Pakistan Tri-Series: Rizwan-Agha duo’s historic fourth-wicket partnership blows South Africa in virtual knockout by 6 wickets

After losing three wickets early during the big run-chase of 353 runs, Pakistan made a stunning comeback courtesy of the historic fourth-wicket partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha. The men in green defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in the virtual knockout of the ongoing tri-nation series. The fourth ODI of the series was played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, where both teams played each other for the spot in the Final to face the unbeaten New Zealand.

The visiting skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to bat first; batting first, SA got a good opening start of 51 runs. Bavuma scored 82 runs off 96 balls, with 13 fours. Later on the number, the star in-form batter Matthew Breetzke scored 83 runs off 84 balls, with 10 fours and a six.

Furthermore, the star wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen scored 87 runs off just 56 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes. Klaasen’s knock was followed by Kyle Verreynne’s 44 runs off 32 balls, with three fours and a six. On the back of these knocks, South Africa posted a big total of 352 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha power Pakistan’s historic chase

While chasing the target, the opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam provided a 57-run opening start for Pakistan before the latter fell prey to Wiaan Mulder in an LBW dismissal. Babar could score only 23 runs off 19 balls, with 4 fours while Fakhar played a quick knock of 41 runs off just 28 balls, with six fours and a six. Saud Shakeel was dismissed cheaply at the individual score of just 15 runs off 16 balls, with only two fours.

Pakistan had lost 3 wickets at the score of 91 runs at the time all-rounder Salman Ali Agha joined the skipper Mohammad Rizwan in the middle for an incredible and historic fourth-wicket partnership. The duo stitched a match-winning partnership of 260 runs for the fourth wicket to hand Pakistan a comfortable win over the Proteas.

Salman Agha scored 134 runs off just 103 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes, with an impressive strike rate of 130.09 before being dismissed on the ball before Pakistan won the game. Skipper Rizwan went unbeaten at the individual score of 122 runs off 128 balls, with nine fours and three sixes.

Tayyab Tahir smashed the winning boundary for Pakistan on the last ball of the 49th over to help his side win by 4 wickets, scoring 355 runs for the loss of 4 wickets and entering the final of the tri-nation series. Now, Pakistan will face New Zealand in the final of the tri-nation series.