On February 12, 2025, Pakistan faced South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi for the third match of the Pakistan vs South Africa ODI Tri-Series, with both teams combating for survival after losses to New Zealand. South Africa won the toss and opted to bat, hoping to set a substantial target for their opponents.
This match was of immense significance as it served as a virtual semifinal, with the winner advancing to share the pitch with New Zealand, who had already secured its spot after triumphing over both nations earlier. Both Pakistan and South Africa suffered hard lessons from their respective previous matches; Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 78 runs, and South Africa was outdone, conceding defeat after scoring 304 runs against the Kiwis.
South Africa made four changes from its previous lineup, welcoming back star batter Heinrich Klaasen, along with Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, and Tony de Zorzi, hoping to rejuvenate their playing strategy after their lackluster performance. Meanwhile, Pakistan adjusted their squad too, bringing in Saud Shakeel and pacer Mohammad Hasnain, stepping up to replace the injured Haris Rauf and Kamran Ghulam.
Early action on the field saw Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi start cautiously for South Africa, focusing on building partnerships. The pair managed to bring South Africa to 50 runs with relative ease, showcasing solid scoring and rotation of strike. By the time the first drinks break was announced, South Africa had reached 98 for 1, with Bavuma's half-century a highlight, marking his 25th ODI fifty.
Matthew Breetzke, who was also key to South Africa's batting lineup, delivered impressive runs, reaching his half-century and proving to be reliable alongside Bavuma. The two formed a formidable partnership which gradually positioned the Proteas on strong footing, consistently punishing any loose deliveries.
Although Pakistani bowlers showed glimpses of control, particularly through Shaheen Afridi, who struck early with Tony de Zorzi's wicket, it wasn't enough to fully halt South Africa's progress. Afridi’s tactical deliveries initially kept the scoring rate reasonable, but the batsmen found enough boundaries to maintain pressure.
After 28 overs, with 170 runs on the scorecard, additional tension emerged as run-outs were becoming prevalent. One such incident saw Bavuma run out off the bowling of Saad Shakeel, casting shadows over South Africa's innings.
Pakistan's bowlers encountered hurdles, especially on the quick outfield, where any misfield or miscalculation allowed runs to flow freely. Despite Khushdil Shah tightening things momentarily, conceding minimal runs during his overs, Pakistan remained significantly behind the curve, facing the need to strike quickly to avoid yielding too many runs.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged the conditions favoring batting at the National Stadium during his pre-match comments. The pitch's history, shelling out runs and enabling competitive totals, hinted at yet another high-scoring contest. Rizwan emphasized tactical play throughout the series to gain momentum leading up to the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Up to this point, both teams have engaged intensely, knowing one of them must secure victory to proceed with their tournament dreams alive. New Zealand loomed large as dominant contenders after clinching two solid victories, signaling their own strong bid for title glory.
With South Africa building toward their target, and Pakistan under high demands to respond effectively, the crowd anticipated continuous dynamic gameplay. Whether the potential of Bavuma and Breetzke could outweigh Pakistan's desperation for resurgence following back-to-back setbacks would prove to be the match’s riveting narrative.
This third ODI not only holds relevance for the teams battling for the final spot but speaks to the essence of cricketing tenacity as nations inch closer to eventful tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy. Observers from around the globe await results from this electrifying showdown, as dynamics continuously shift within this exhilarating sport.