Mohammad Rizwan Stars in Pakistan's Nervy Win

Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role in Pakistan's nervy two-wicket win over South Africa in the first ODI in Faisalabad. On this day, Pakistan chased a target of 264 with two balls to spare.

Pakistan's openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub added 87 runs for the first wicket before a brief mid-innings wobble saw them lose three wickets for 18 runs.

Donovan Ferreira struck in consecutive overs to remove both the openers whereas Babar Azam was pinned in front by Bjorn Fortuin.

Mohammad Rizwan's calm 55 off 74 and a stabilising 91-run stand for the fourth wicket with Salman Agha helped revive the chase. Rizwan played with soft hands against spin and picked gaps with control.

Their stand carried Pakistan past the tricky middle overs before Rizwan fell to Corbin Bosch in the 39th over.

Hussain Talat's cameo then covered up for the wobble that would follow soon after, seeing the hosts go from 241/4 to 252/7 in some late drama. But the hard work had been done by the spinners earlier in the day.

South Africa, with the bat, rode a sparkling 98-run opening stand but went on to be bundled out for 263 in 49.1 overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius was fluent from the start and Quinton de Kock matched him for tempo.

Saim Ayub's offspin broke the stand by having Pretorius caught at backward point and later prised out Tony de Zorzi with a sharply turning ball for a return catch.

Between those two dismissals, Naseem Shah sent back de Kock, who chopped on, even as Pakistan's spinners tightened the screws through the middle. Captain Matthew Breetzke and Sinethemba Qeshile threatened to lift the rate.

But Mohammad Nawaz removed Qeshile and Abrar Ahmed's late spell ripped through the middle order. Breetzke holed out, Bjorn Fortuin was lbw next ball.

Lungi Ngidi survived only through an inside-edge review in a double-wicket maiden. From 191/3, the visitors slid to 228/8 and that was perhaps the match for Pakistan.

Corbin Bosch countered with a 41 off 40 before Shaheen Afridi's yorker finally beat him in the 49th over. Naseem ended the innings by getting through the defences of Lizaad Williams.

The **Brief Scores** were South Africa 263 in 49.1 overs lost to Pakistan 264/9 in 49.4 overs. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha were the top scorers for Pakistan with 55 and 62 runs respectively.