Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha cracked centuries to guide Pakistan into the Tri-Series final with a thumping six-wicket win over the Proteas in Karachi on Wednesday.

Rizwan led Pakistan’s highest successful ODI chase of 353 in 49 overs with a magnificent 122* while Salman slammed 134 for his maiden century at the National Stadium.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand at the same venue on Friday in the final of the event which is a key warm-up for the Champions Trophy which starts next week.

The hundreds made by Rizwan and Salman overshadowed Matthew Breetzke’s record of scoring most runs by a batsman in his first two ODIs of 150 and 83.

Breetzke’s innings had set up an imposing Proteas total of 352-5.

Rizwan and Salman built a match-changing stand of 260, a new record for the fourth wicket for Pakistan, improving on the 206 scored by Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan against India in Centurion in 2009.

Their blistering innings should also erase doubts over the team’s vulnerable batting as they improved on Pakistan’s previous highest successful chase of 349 against Australia in Lahore in 2022.

Rizwan hit nine fours and three sixes off 128 balls while Salman’s 103-ball knock had 16 boundaries and two sixes.

HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan vs Proteas (Tri-Series ODI)

Earlier, Breetzke followed his highest-ever debut score against New Zealand in Lahore on Monday with an attractive 84-ball 83, spiced with a six and 10 fours, after South Africa won the toss.

Breetzke bettered West Indian Desmond Haynes’ aggregate of 195 runs in his first two matches in 1978 before he fell to a brilliant catch off spinner Khushdil Shah.

Pakistan’s vaunted bowling attack failed to stop the tourists from scoring a big total, with captain Temba Bavuma (82) and Heinrich Klaasen (87) also chipping in.

With wickets not falling, frustrated Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi angrily clashed with Breetzke as the batsman attempted to complete a run.

Shaheen made physical contact and exchanged words with his rival before umpire Asif Yaqoob separated the pair.

Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi (22), one of four changes in the Proteas XI, put on 51 for the opening stand. The captain then built a second-wicket stand of 119 with Breetzke.

Bavuma was run out after cracking 13 fours in his 96-ball knock.

Klaasen lifted the tempo with a rapid 56-ball knock, smashing three sixes and 11 fours as the South Africans added 110 runs in the last 10 overs.

Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch remained not out with 44 and 15 respectively to take the Proteas past 350.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: TheRealPCB/X

Matthew Breetzke scored 150, the highest by anyone on ODI debut, as the Proteas made 304-6 against New Zealand in the Tri-Series in Pakistan on Monday.

The 26-year-old’s brilliant 148-ball knock anchored the South African innings after they were sent in to bat at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, trumps the 148 made by Desmond Haynes for the West Indies on debut against Australia in Antigua in 1978.

Breetzke put on 37 for the opening stand with captain Temba Bavuma (20) and another 93 for the second wicket with Jason Smith (41) to give South Africa an ideal platform.

Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.

Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi and Colin Ingram are the others.

Breetzke cracked a six off fast bowler Ben Sears to post his 150 before being caught at mid-off by Michael Bracewell off Matt Henry in the 46th over.

Wiaan Mulder scored a 60-ball 64 with five fours and a six to ensure the Proteas posted a 300-plus total.

Henry 2-59 and O’Rourke 2-72 were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.

South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in the SA20 back home or recovering from injuries.

New Zealand brought in opener Devon Conway for Rachin Ravindra, who was injured during their 78-run win over Pakistan, also in Lahore, on Saturday.

Pakistan are the third team in the Tri-Series, a warm-up event before it hosts the Champions Trophy starting 19 February.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has expressed his desire to secure a permanent spot in the Australian Test team.

(more…)

Mitchell Marsh claimed three wickets in three overs as the West Indies top-order collapsed in the Tri-Nation series final.

(more…)

Tom Sizeland rates the players’ performances, following the Proteas early exit from the Tri-Nation series. (more…)

Proteas captain AB de Villiers says not enough of the top-order batsmen put their hands up in the Tri-Nation series.

(more…)

West Indies will play Australia in the Tri-Nation series final, after they beat the Proteas by 100 runs in Barbados on Friday. (more…)

Kagiso Rabada took figures of 3-31, but West Indies still managed to post a competitive 285 in their do-or-die clash in Barbados. (more…)

AB de Villiers has won the toss and has decided to bowl first in their must-win clash against West Indies in Barbados. (more…)

Tom Sizeland highlights five talking points ahead of the Proteas’ must-win Tri-Nation series clash against West Indies on Friday. (more…)