Saim Ayub continues remarkable rise as Pakistan complete ODI series sweep in South Africa

Opening batsman hits another century to secure 3-0 series victory

Pakistan's Saim Ayub celebrates his century in the third ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg. AFP

Young opening batsman Saim Ayub's meteoric rise in white-ball cricket continued as the left-hander hit his second century of the series, and his third in five innings, as Pakistan completed a 3-0 ODI series clean sweep against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Ayub, 22, scored a superb 101 off 94 balls as Pakistan reached 308-9, which once again proved beyond the reach of the hosts. Heinrich Klaasen thrashed 81 off 43 balls for South Africa but the hosts ended up losing by 36 runs in a rain-affected match.

Pakistan's bowling attack once again kept a dangerous Proteas line-up at bay, with left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem picking up four wickets on his ODI debut as the hosts were dismissed for 271. Pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets apiece as Pakistan registered another significant series victory.

Pakistan have engineered a stunning turnaround in their fortunes in the latter part of 2024, starting with a dramatic 2-1 Test series win at home against England which was followed by ODI series wins in Australia and now South Africa.

Among the many positives for Pakistan is the dramatic progress of Ayub, who had hit 113 not out in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last month and 109 in the series opener against South Africa in Paarl last week.

In between his ODI appearances, he made an unbeaten 98 in the second T20 against South Africa in Centurion.

To top it all, Ayub is a proper mystery bowler who regularly bowls his quota of overs.

Ayub was named player of the match and player of the series.

"It's important because we won but it is for all the team, not just me," he said. "The senior players helped me a lot."

On Sunday, Ayub played shots all around the wicket. He starred in partnerships of 114 with Babar Azam (52) and 93 with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53).

Ayub fell to debutant Corbin Bosch after hitting 13 fours and two sixes.

The target of 308 was a challenging one against a potent Pakistan attack that had pace and quality wrist spin.

For the third straight match, Klaasen was the only South African to make a half-century. He kept South Africa ahead of the required run rate until he was sixth man out, caught on the square leg boundary off Shaheen Afridi with the total on 194 in the 29th over.

Ayub followed up his century by taking 1-34 in 10 overs with his mixture of off-spin and carrom balls, claiming the key wicket of David Miller and producing the most economical figures by any bowler in the match.

Pakistan thus recorded their fifth successive bilateral ODI series win, which has put them in good stead ahead of the Champions Trophy which they will host in February.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that India will play their Champions Trophy matches in the UAE after the hosts selected the Emirates as a neutral venue.

Due to strained political relations, India have not visited Pakistan since 2008 and the Indian cricket board decided not to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing government advice.

The two countries play each other only at multi-team tournaments, with Pakistan visiting India for the 50-overs World Cup last year.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board has chosen the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the neutral venue," PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said.

The eight-team Champions Trophy will be held in February and March next year.

The International Cricket Council said last week that matches between India and Pakistan in tournaments that it organised in either nation would be played at neutral venues.

The arrangement applies to the men's Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the women's ODI World Cup in India next year.

It will also be in place for the men's T20 World Cup in 2026, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka, and the women's T20 World Cup in 2028 in Pakistan.