NEW DELHI: After being removed from captaincy, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan began his new journey on an emphatic note, smashing a half-century in the first ODI against South Africa in Faisalabad on Tuesday.
With this 55-run knock, Rizwan became only the fourth batter to record four consecutive fifties against South Africa in ODIs, joining the likes of England's Alex Hales - who tops the list with six half-centuries - along with Pakistan's Ijaz Ahmed (4) and former Australian skipper Steve Waugh (4).
Pakistan hold nerve to eke out narrow victory
In the series opener, a full-strength Pakistan edged out a spirited South Africa by two wickets to celebrate the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after 17 long years.
Mohammad Rizwan, backbone of Pakistan Cricket in longer formats reaches his 50, averaging 53.26 since 2023 in ODIs! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/u1qtdUPvD5
— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) November 4, 2025
Chasing 265, Pakistan's lower order held its nerve to take the hosts home in the final over, despite a late fightback from an inexperienced South African side that snatched four wickets in the last five overs to keep the contest alive till the very end.
South Africa, which lost their sixth straight toss across formats on its tour of Pakistan, couldn't capitalize on half-centuries from debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) and Quinton de Kock (63) before it got bowled out for 263 in 49.1 overs.
Top-scorer Salman Ali Agha (62) and Rizwan (55) saw Pakistan cruising to 196-3 in the 39th over before Pakistan nearly slipped in what appeared to be a straightforward run-chase.
