✅ Pakistan Edge Past South Africa in a Nail-Biting First ODI | Full Match Analysis, Scorecard & Highlights
Pakistan cricket fans witnessed a thriller at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, where Pakistan defeated South Africa by two wickets with just two balls remaining in the opening ODI of the 2025 series. It was a match that had everything — a confident start, a mid-innings collapse, heroic bowling spells, and a pressure-filled finish that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
With the victory, Pakistan gained a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and continued their strong ODI momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy preparations.
This blog offers a complete match report, scorecard breakdown, top performers, player analysis, and how this result affects upcoming ODIs in the series.
🏟️ Match Overview Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI 2025 (Faisalabad)
- Match: 1st ODI, South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025
- Date: November 04, 2025
- Venue: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
- Result: Pakistan won by 2 wickets (2 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match: Salman Ali Agha — 62 (71)
Shaheen Shah Afridi, leading Pakistan as the new full-time ODI captain, opted to bowl first — a decision that proved correct thanks to Pakistan’s disciplined bowling performance and timely breakthroughs.
🔥 South Africa Innings: Strong Start but Sudden Collapse
South Africa put up 263 runs in 49.1 overs — a total that looked competitive but slightly below par on a good Faisalabad pitch.
✅ Opening Stand Creates Pressure
The new opening pair:
- Quinton de Kock — 63 (71)
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius — 57 (60)
They added a 98-run partnership, leaving Pakistan searching for a breakthrough. Pretorius particularly impressed with early intent, striking boundaries freely.
Just as South Africa looked set for 300+, Saim Ayub — usually known for his batting — turned the game around with the ball.
❌ Middle-Order Collapse
After reaching 147/3, things changed dramatically:
| Key Collapse Phase | Score Progress |
|---|---|
| 98/0 ➝ | 147/3 |
| 191/3 ➝ | 228/8 |
Pakistan’s spin duo Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz dismantled the middle-order with clever variations, while skipper Shaheen returned to take a big wicket in the death overs.
⭐ Key South African Performers
| Player | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | 63 | 71 | 88.73 |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | 57 | 60 | 95.00 |
| Matthew Breetzke | 42 | 54 | 77.77 |
| Corbin Bosch | 41 | 40 | 102.50 |
Bosch’s late hitting pushed South Africa past 260 — keeping the contest alive.
✅ Pakistan’s Best Bowlers
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | 9.1 | 40 | 3 | 4.36 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 9 | 53 | 3 | 5.88 |
| Saim Ayub | 8 | 39 | 2 | 4.87 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 10 | 45 | 1 | 4.50 |
Saim’s wickets came at a crucial turning point — a major confidence booster for the young star.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Innings: Brilliant Start, Tough Middle, and Nerves of Steel at the End
Pakistan began brilliantly with an 87-run stand between Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
✅ Opening Partnership Confidence Boost
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 45 | 57 | 4 | 2 |
| Saim Ayub | 39 | 42 | 4 | 1 |
Both looked in control until spinner Ferreira removed them within quick succession.
❌ Babar Azam Fails to Capitalize
Babar entered under pressure but fell for a disappointing 7 off 12 — raising concerns about his current form.
⭐ The Match-Saving Partnership: Rizwan & Salman Agha
With Pakistan struggling at 105/3, Rizwan (55) and Agha (62) rebuilt the innings heroically with a 91-run partnership.
Their smart rotation of strike and well-timed boundaries gave Pakistan a solid position heading into the last 10 overs.
⚠️ A Dramatic Collapse
From 196/3 ➝ 252/7 — four wickets fell too quickly:
- Rizwan — caught while trying to accelerate
- Hussain Talat — aggressive but not enough
- Hasan Nawaz — stumped cheaply
- Salman Agha — dismissed after a brilliant fifty
The pressure returned — requiring a calm finish.
🏁 The Final Overs: Pakistan Hold Their Nerves
- 18 runs required off 18 balls
- Then 12 required off 12
- Then 1 run required with 3 balls left
Mohammad Nawaz tried to finish with a six but got caught — increasing tension.
The final winning run came from Naseem Shah, who kept his cool and sprinted a sharp single — triggering huge celebrations.
Shaheen Afridi finished 4(4)* — showing leadership under pressure.
🌟 Player of the Match: Salman Ali Agha
62 runs
71 balls
7 boundaries
One of his most mature ODI innings.
He rescued Pakistan from trouble and kept the scoreboard moving intelligently.
His confidence as a middle-order backbone continues to grow, solving Pakistan’s long-standing No. 5 problem.
🧠 Tactical Analysis: How Pakistan Won
| Game Phase | Result for Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Toss Decision | ✅ Shaheen’s decision to bowl worked |
| Bowling Powerplay | ❌ Bowlers struggled early |
| Middle Overs | ✅ Spin brought Pakistan back |
| Batting Powerplay | ✅ Aggressive start |
| Middle Overs | ✅ Rizwan–Agha partnership |
| Death Overs | ⚠️ Poor shot selection |
| Final Execution | ✅ Held nerves |
Pakistan’s ability to fight back in both innings shows strong temperament and depth.
🔍 Squad Improvements Under Shaheen’s Captaincy
| Area | Improvement Seen |
|---|---|
| New-ball aggression | Better lines from Naseem |
| Spin management | Trust in young spinners |
| Fielding energy | Higher intensity |
| Team spirit | Visible unity in pressure |
Shaheen Afridi is building a modern, fearless ODI unit.
❗ Concerns That Still Need Fixing
- Babar Azam’s form slump continues
- Finishing remains inconsistent
- Quick wickets after set partnerships
- Too many dot balls in first 25 overs
These improvements could make Pakistan more dominant in upcoming ODIs.
📊 CricTory Insights & Key Analytics
| Category | Insight |
|---|---|
| Game-Changing Phase | South Africa collapsed from 191/3 to 228/8 |
| Heroic Partnership | Rizwan & Agha added 91 runs under pressure |
| Death Overs Pressure | Pakistan lost 4 wickets for 56 runs |
| Spin Impact | Abrar & Saim turned the match in middle overs |
| Captaincy Shift | Shaheen’s rotation of bowlers impressed |
| Fielding Factor | Pakistan saved nearly 15 runs with quick stops |
📌 Pakistan’s win probability dropped to 55% at 48th over — but surged to 97% after Nawaz’s six attempt & Naseem’s winning run.
📊 Match Summary Scorecard
South Africa: 263 all out (49.1 overs)
Top Performers: Pretorius 57, de Kock 63, Bosch 41
Best Bowlers (PAK): Naseem 3/40, Abrar 3/53
Pakistan: 264/8 (49.4 overs)
Top Performers: Agha 62, Rizwan 55, Fakhar 45
Best Bowlers (SA): Ngidi 2/46, Ferreira 2/53
✅ Pakistan won by 2 wickets
🏆 Player of the Match: Salman Ali Agha
📈 Series Outlook — What This Win Means for Pakistan
- Pakistan lead 1-0
- Confidence boost for inexperienced middle-order
- Shaheen’s leadership gaining trust of fans
- Spinners proving matchwinners at home
Next Match Expectation:
- South Africa will be eager to bounce back
- Pakistan must avoid another batting collapse
❓ FAQs
Q1: Who won Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI 2025?
A: Pakistan won by 2 wickets with 2 balls left.Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
A: Salman Ali Agha for his brilliant 62 off 71 balls.Q3: Where was the match played?
A: Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.Q4: What was the winning moment?
A: Naseem Shah scored the final run with 2 balls to spare.Q5: What is the series score now?
A: Pakistan lead 1-0 in the three-match ODI series.✅ Conclusion
Pakistan have started the series with a thrilling win that showcased their strength and composure under pressure. While the bowling unit responded brilliantly after a tough start, the middle-order rescue led by Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan proved match-defining. However, Pakistan must fix finishing problems and Babar Azam’s form before the next ODI. With this victory, Shaheen Afridi has taken a strong step forward as captain, and Pakistan carry momentum into the remaining matches of the series.