Pakistan completed a dominant series victory over South Africa with a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the third and final ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on November 8, 2025. The south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard reflects a story of spin brilliance and clinical batting, as Pakistan sealed a 2-1 series win their first-ever home ODI series triumph over the Proteas.
The turning point came in the middle overs when leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed dismantled South Africa’s middle order with a career-best 4 for 27, reducing the visitors from a promising 106/2 to a modest 143 all out. Saim Ayub then delivered a blistering 77 off 70 balls to chase down the target with nearly 25 overs to spare. This was also Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first ODI series as skipper and he lifted the trophy with a convincing win.
3rd ODI | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | November 8, 2025 | Pakistan won by 7 wickets
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Match Summary
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 143 | 10 | 37.5 | Batting First |
| Pakistan | 144 | 3 | 25.1 | Won by 7 wickets |
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat on a slow, low Faisalabad surface. Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius got the visitors off to a solid start, putting on 72 for the first wicket. However, Pakistan’s spinners tightened the noose beautifully through the middle overs. After Salman Agha removed Pretorius and de Zorzi, Abrar Ahmed ran riot taking three wickets in two overs to trigger a stunning collapse. From 106/2, South Africa lost eight wickets for just 37 runs, bundled out for 143 in under 38 overs.
Pakistan’s reply was swift and aggressive. Despite losing Fakhar Zaman for a duck early, Saim Ayub took control with a blazing half-century. Babar Azam contributed a fluent 27 before being run out, and Mohammad Rizwan ensured a calm finish. Pakistan knocked off the target in just 25.1 overs a complete performance from start to finish.
Batting Highlights
South Africa Innings: 143 All Out (37.5 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | 39 | – | – | – | – |
| Quinton de Kock | 53 | – | – | – | – |
| Tony de Zorzi | – | – | – | – | – |
| Matthew Breetzke (c) | 16 | – | – | – | – |
| Nqabayomzi Peter | 16 | – | – | – | – |
| Others (combined) | 13 | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 6 | – | – | – | – |
The south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard for the batting innings tells a tale of two separate sessions. The first 25 overs were controlled; de Kock continued his outstanding series form and reached 7,000 ODI career runs becoming the second-fastest South African to achieve the milestone, behind only Hashim Amla (in 158 innings). Pretorius was lively at the top before falling to Salman Agha for 39. Once Abrar Ahmed came on, the middle order crumbled in alarming fashion. Ferreira, Bosch, and Fortuin shared just 13 runs between them as South Africa’s innings rapidly lost shape.
Pakistan Innings: 144/3 (25.1 Overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Saim Ayub | 77 | 70 | 11 | 1 | 110.00 |
| Babar Azam | 27 | – | – | – | – |
| Mohammad Rizwan* | 32* | – | – | – | – |
| Salman Agha* | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 8 | – | – | – | – |
Saim Ayub was the undisputed star of the chase. After a cautious start it took him ten balls to open his account he unleashed a range of elegant strokes, reaching his fifty off just 39 balls. His innings featured 11 fours and a six, and he set the tone for Pakistan’s dominant reply. Babar Azam looked sublime during his 27 before an unfortunate run-out. Rizwan then held the fort calmly to guide Pakistan over the line with ease. The south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard clearly shows Pakistan never needed to stretch beyond Ayub’s brilliance.
Bowling Figures
Pakistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 7 | 25 | 0 | 3.57 |
| Haris Rauf | 7 | 32 | 0 | 4.57 |
| Saim Ayub | 3 | 11 | 0 | 3.67 |
| Salman Agha | 8 | 18 | 2 | 2.25 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 10 | 27 | 4 | 2.70 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2.5 | 24 | 2 | 8.47 |
Abrar Ahmed was the standout with career-best figures of 4/27. He was miserly throughout his full 10-over spell, bamboozling South Africa’s batters with his leg-breaks and googlies on a surface that offered generous turn. Three of his wickets came in a burst of two overs that dismantled South Africa’s middle order. Salman Agha was equally disciplined, removing the dangerous Pretorius and de Zorzi with sharp angles and clever variations. Pakistan’s pacers Shaheen and Rauf were effective in the powerplay, keeping pressure even without early wickets.
South Africa Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nandre Burger | 6 | 29 | 1 | 4.83 |
| Shaheen Afridi | – | – | – | – |
| Bjorn Fortuin | 7 | 41 | 1 | 5.86 |
| Corbin Bosch | 5 | 28 | 0 | 5.60 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 4 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Others | 3.1 | 24 | 0 | 7.58 |
Burger dismissed Fakhar Zaman for a duck early his second consecutive duck of the series but that was South Africa’s only early success. Fortuin removed the in-form Ayub toward the end, but by then the game was all but won. South Africa’s death bowling was never tested, as Pakistan needed only 25 overs. The Proteas missed pace depth without their key weapons firing in unison.
Key Moments & Tactical Analysis
Toss Impact
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat a decision that backfired badly. The Iqbal Stadium pitch had been assisting spinners throughout the series, and batting first left the visitors exposed to Pakistan’s slow-bowling attack in the crucial middle overs.
Powerplay Momentum
South Africa were patient in the powerplay, pushing to 62 without loss in the first 10 overs thanks to a 72-run opening stand. Pakistan’s pacers conceded some loose deliveries early on, but the real damage came once Agha and Abrar were introduced.
Turning Point
Abrar Ahmed’s burst between overs 24 and 28 changed the match entirely. He removed de Kock, Rubin Hermann, and Donovan Ferreira in quick succession three wickets for just a handful of runs to trigger a catastrophic collapse. At 106/2, South Africa looked set for 220+. Instead, they were all out for 143.
Captaincy Decisions
Shaheen Shah Afridi showed maturity in his first ODI series as captain. Holding back Abrar and using Agha’s cutters first was tactically astute. Once the pitch started gripping, Abrar was lethal. Breetzke, as South Africa’s stand-in skipper, admitted post-match they were 80–100 runs short of what the situation demanded.
Pitch & Conditions
The slow, low Faisalabad pitch played a defining role. Variable bounce troubled South Africa’s batters enormously, and with no dew at night, Pakistan’s spinners got maximum assistance in both innings. The south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard clearly reflects how conditions shaped the result.
Key Stats Comparison
| Metric | South Africa | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 143 | 144/3 |
| Overs Batted | 37.5 | 25.1 |
| Extras | 6 | 8 |
| Boundaries (4s) | ~14 | ~15 |
| Sixes | 1 | 1 |
| Run Rate | 3.82 | 5.73 |
| Top Score | 53 (de Kock) | 77 (Ayub) |
| Best Bowling | Burger 1/29 | Abrar 4/27 |
The stats comparison in this south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard tells a clear story. Pakistan’s run rate of 5.73 versus South Africa’s 3.82 underlines how comfortably the hosts chased. South Africa’s batting collapse losing eight wickets for 37 runs was the defining statistical disaster of the match. Abrar’s economy rate of 2.70 over his full 10 overs was exceptional bowling on any surface.
Read Also: Pakistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Head-to-Head Analysis
| Format | Matches | SA Wins | PAK Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI (All Time) | 90 | 53 | 36 | 1 |
| Tests (All Time) | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 |
| T20Is (All Time) | 27 | 13 | 14 | 0 |
| ODIs in Pakistan | 15+ | 8 | 7+ | 0 |
South Africa have historically dominated Pakistan in ODI cricket, winning 53 of the 90 matches played since their first encounter in the 1992 World Cup. However, Pakistan have been closing the gap rapidly in recent years, particularly on home soil. This series result represents a significant swing in momentum Pakistan’s first-ever home ODI series win over South Africa.
Historical Rivalry
The rivalry between the south africa national cricket team and pakistan national cricket team dates back to March 8, 1992, in Brisbane, where South Africa playing in their first World Cup defeated Pakistan by 20 runs. Since then, the two teams have faced each other across 135+ international matches in all formats, with South Africa historically holding the upper hand.
Key milestones in the rivalry include Pakistan’s first bilateral ODI series win on South African soil in 2021 (2-1), followed by an extraordinary 3-0 whitewash in South Africa in late 2024 the first time any visiting team had whitewashed the Proteas at home in an ODI series. This 2025 home series win now cements Pakistan’s recent dominance over South Africa in ODI cricket, representing three consecutive ODI series wins against the Proteas.
South Africa, however, continue to hold the overall edge across all formats. In Tests, they lead 15-11, and their commanding record in Asia (winning 18 of their 33 ODIs on the subcontinent) shows the Proteas are no pushover even away from home. The rivalry is becoming one of the most competitive in modern ODI cricket.
Read Also: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Match Scorecard
Series Summary
| Match | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI – Faisalabad | Nov 4, 2025 | Pakistan won by 2 wickets |
| 2nd ODI – Faisalabad | Nov 6, 2025 | South Africa won by 8 wickets |
| 3rd ODI – Faisalabad | Nov 8, 2025 | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
Pakistan won the series 2-1. The first game was a thriller Pakistan squeezed home with two wickets and two balls remaining. South Africa bounced back emphatically in the second game, with de Kock’s brilliant century steering them to an eight-wicket win. The decider, however, belonged entirely to Pakistan as their spin attack proved too hot to handle on the Faisalabad surface.
Conclusion
The south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team match scorecard from November 8, 2025, is a document of spin dominance and explosive batting. Pakistan’s series win their first ever against South Africa in a home ODI series marks a new chapter in this storied rivalry. Abrar Ahmed’s career-best figures and Saim Ayub’s aggressive fifty were the twin pillars of a comprehensive team performance.
For South Africa, this series offered mixed lessons. Quinton de Kock was outstanding he was named Player of the Series with 239 runs but the middle-order collapses in the 1st and 3rd ODIs exposed a vulnerability against quality spin in subcontinent conditions. The absence of lead spinner Keshav Maharaj was sorely felt in South Africa’s bowling attack. Pakistan, meanwhile, look in fine form heading into their next challenges, with Shaheen Shah Afridi making an impressive start as ODI captain.
? FAQs
What was the final score?
Pakistan 144/3 (25.1 overs) beat South Africa 143 (37.5 overs) by 7 wickets.
Who was Player of the Match?
Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan) career-best 4/27 in 10 overs.
Who was Player of the Series?
Quinton de Kock (South Africa) 239 runs across the 3-match series.
Who scored the most runs in the match?
Saim Ayub (Pakistan) scored 77 off 70 balls in the chase. For South Africa, Quinton de Kock top-scored with 53.
Who took the most wickets?
Abrar Ahmed took 4/27, the best bowling figures of the match.
What was the turning point?
Abrar Ahmed’s burst in overs 24–28, taking three wickets to trigger South Africa’s collapse from 106/2 to 143 all out.
Where can I watch South Africa vs Pakistan matches?
Matches from south africa national cricket team vs pakistan national cricket team are broadcast on SuperSport (South Africa), PTV Sports / A Sports (Pakistan), and via ICC/ESPN digital platforms globally.
Who won the ODI series?
Pakistan won the 3-match ODI series 2-1, claiming their first-ever home ODI series win against South Africa.
