Pakistan survived a late scare to edge South Africa by two wickets in a gripping finish to the opening ODI in Faisalabad, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.
After Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed combined to bowl out South Africa for 263, Mohammad Rizwan (55) and Salman Agha (62) guided Pakistan towards a seemingly comfortable chase. However, late strikes by Corbin Bosch and George Linde triggered panic before Mohammad Nawaz’s 49th-over six sealed the win.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock (63) and debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) gave South Africa a strong start, but a middle-order collapse derailed their innings. Naseem’s late burst (3/40) and Abrar’s spin (3/53) restricted the visitors to an under-par total.
Pakistan’s top order, led by Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub’s brisk opening stand, looked in control early on before a mid-innings wobble turned the chase tense. Yet, Nawaz held his nerve in the dying moments as the hosts completed a nervy win to go 1–0 up in the series.
