South Africa National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Review of the 3rd ODI Decider

The rivalry between the South Africa national cricket team and the Pakistan national cricket team has always been one of the most exciting in international cricket. Packed with intense moments, brilliant individual performances, and dramatic twists, matches between these two sides never fail to entertain. On November 8, 2025, the two teams faced off in the decisive 3rd ODI at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, where Pakistan sealed a 2-1 series victory with a commanding seven-wicket win. This South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard tells the story of a one-sided affair dominated by Pakistan’s spinners on a tricky pitch.

As part of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan 2025/26, this series capped off a multi-format tour that included T20Is, ODIs, and Tests. Coming into the decider (after Pakistan won the first ODI narrowly and South Africa leveled in the second), the pressure was immense. Pakistan, under new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, delivered a clinical performance to win their first bilateral ODI series against South Africa on home soil in over a decade. Below is a detailed breakdown of the South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard, key moments, player performances, and analysis.

Match Summary: Pakistan Crush South Africa by 7 Wickets

Match Details:

• Date: November 8, 2025
• Venue: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
• Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first
• Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets (with 149 balls remaining)
• Player of the Match: Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan) – 4/27 in 10 overs
• Player of the Series: Quinton de Kock (South Africa) – 239 runs across the series
• Series Result: Pakistan won 2-1

South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 143 in just 37.5 overs, with Pakistan’s spinners running riot on a dry, turning Faisalabad pitch. Pakistan chased down the target in 25.1 overs, losing only three wickets, thanks to a fluent 77 from opener Saim Ayub. This was a statement win for Pakistan, highlighting their dominance in home conditions against a depleted but competitive South African side missing several first-choice players.

South Africa Innings: A Familiar Collapse on Turning Track (143 all out in 37.5 overs)

South Africa captain Matthew Breetzke won the toss and chose to bat, hoping to set a competitive total on a pitch expected to deteriorate. However, the decision backfired spectacularly as Pakistan’s bowlers, led by mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, exploited the conditions perfectly.

Openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock provided a solid start, putting on 72 for the first wicket. Pretorius looked aggressive, striking 4 fours and a six in his 39 off 45 balls, while de Kock anchored with a patient 53 off 70 balls (6 fours, 1 six). Their partnership was the only bright spot for South Africa, taking the score to 72 in 14.2 overs.

Once Salman Agha broke through by dismissing Pretorius (caught by Babar Azam), the innings fell apart. Tony de Zorzi managed only 2 before edging Agha to slip. De Kock reached his fifty but was trapped lbw by Mohammad Nawaz soon after. The middle order crumbled dramatically. Rubin Hermann (on debut) bowled for 1), Donovan Ferreira (7), and Corbin Bosch (duck) all fell to Abrar Ahmed in quick succession.

Abrar produced a spell of sheer magic: 10-1-27-4, including two wickets in two balls (Bosch and Ferreira). From 106/2, South Africa slumped to 117/6. Lower-order resistance from Nqabayomzi Peter (16) was brief, as Shaheen Shah Afridi cleaned up the tail with 2/18, including a wicket with the last ball.

Bowling Highlights for Pakistan:

• Abrar Ahmed: 10-1-27-4 (Economy: 2.70) – Player of the Match for his career-best figures
• Salman Agha: 4-0-18-2
• Mohammad Nawaz: 9-0-31-2
• Shaheen Shah Afridi: 4.5-0-18-2

This was a textbook demonstration of how to bowl on a spinning pitch, tight lines, variations, and relentless pressure. South Africa’s batters looked clueless against spin, losing 8 wickets to spinners.

Full South Africa Batting Scorecard:

Extras: 3 (lb 2, w 1)

Total: 143 (37.5 overs, RR: 3.77)

Fall of wickets: 72/1 (14.2), 87/2 (18.5), 106/3 (24.3), 109/4 (25.1), 117/5 (27.3), 117/6 (27.4), 122/7 (28.6), 130/8 (33.2), 143/9 (37.4), 143/10 (37.5)

Pakistan Innings: Saim Ayub Stars in Comfortable Chase (144/3 in 25.1 overs)

Chasing 144, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for a duck in the first over to Nandre Burger. However, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a 65-run second-wicket partnership. Babar looked elegant for his 27 off 32 (5 fours) before being run out in a mix-up.

Saim Ayub took charge, smashing 11 fours and a six in his 77 off 70 balls; his aggressive strokeplay ensured Pakistan never lost momentum. Mohammad Rizwan (32* off 45, with a six) and Salman Agha (unbeaten 5*) finished things off in style, with Agha hitting the winning boundary.

South Africa’s bowlers toiled but lacked penetration on a pitch offering little for pacers. Bjorn Fortuin picked up the only wicket besides the run-out.

Full Pakistan Batting Scorecard:

Extras: 3 (lb 2, w 1)

Total: 144/3 (25.1 overs, RR: 5.72)

Did not bat: Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf

Fall of wickets: 0/1 (0.2 ov), 65/2 (10.2 ov), 130/3 (23.4 ov)

South Africa Bowling:

Key Moments and Analysis

1. The Collapse (Overs 14–28): From a comfortable 72/0, South Africa lost 6 wickets for 45 runs. Abrar Ahmed’s double-wicket over (27.3 and 27.4) completely shifted momentum. This is a recurring theme for South Africa against spin in Asia; poor footwork and indecision proved costly.
2. Abrar Ahmed’s Magic: The 25-year-old leg-spinner’s variations (googly, leg-break, flipper) were unplayable. His 4/27 is one of the best figures by a Pakistani spinner against South Africa in recent years. This performance will boost his case for more white-ball opportunities.
3. Saim Ayub’s Emergence: After opening the bowling (7-0-30-0), Ayub smashed 77 to anchor the chase. His promotion to opener has been a masterstroke, aggressive yet controlled. He dominated the power play and beyond.
4. Quinton de Kock’s Lone Fight: Despite the loss, de Kock’s 53 and series tally of 239 runs earned him Player of the Series. At 32, he showed why he’s still South Africa’s best white-ball batter.
5. Pitch and Conditions: The Faisalabad surface offered sharp turns and low bounce, favoring spinners. South Africa’s decision to bat first was a tactical misjudgment that played into Pakistan’s hands.

This match highlighted Pakistan’s strength in home ODIs (especially spin bowling) and South Africa’s ongoing struggles on turning tracks in Asia. For Pakistan, it was a confidence booster ahead of upcoming tournaments; for South Africa, a reminder that their spin-playing issues persist despite a transitional squad performing admirably overall.

Series Context and Head-to-Head Update

The ODI series finished 2-1 to Pakistan:

• 1st ODI (Faisalabad): Pakistan won by 2 wickets (thriller chasing 264)
• 2nd ODI: South Africa won by 8 wickets
• 3rd ODI: Pakistan won by 7 wickets

In the broader tour, Pakistan also won the T20I series 2-1 while the Tests were drawn 1-1. Overall, Pakistan dominated the white-ball legs on home soil.

Historically, Pakistan now leads the ODI head-to-head 51-30 (with 1 no-result) after this series. In Pakistan, the record is even more lopsided in favor of the home team.

Why Pakistan Dominated This South Africa National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard

• Spin Mastery: 8 of 10 South African wickets fell to spin. Abrar, Nawaz, and Agha combined for 8/76 in 23 overs.
• Fielding Brilliance: Sharp catches (Babar, Rizwan, Shaheen) and a crucial run-out.
• Batting Depth: Even with Fakhar’s early duck, Ayub and Rizwan’s experience ensured no panic.
• Captaincy: Shaheen’s first series as ODI captain ends in victory, promising signs.

South Africa will rue their middle-order fragility. Debutant Rubin Hermann struggled, and the lack of a quality spinner (Fortuin was the main one) hurt them badly.

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Final Words!

The November 8, 2025, encounter was a perfect example of Pakistan’s mastery in subcontinental conditions and their ability to produce match-winning spin performances when it matters most. For South Africa, despite Quinton de Kock’s heroics across the series, the tour exposed ongoing issues with playing spin in Asia, issues that must be addressed before the next Asia tour or global events.

This South Africa national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard will be remembered for Abrar Ahmed’s spell and Saim Ayub’s all-round contribution, signaling exciting times for Pakistani cricket. As both teams look ahead to the Champions Trophy and World Cup cycles, matches like these only add to the rich legacy of this fierce rivalry. Pakistan fans will cherish this series win, while South Africa will use it as a learning experience for future challenges.