The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the 1st ODI of the South Africa tour of Pakistan in November 2025 was one of those matches. You know — the kind where you pace around the room in the final over, talk to the TV screen like it can hear you, and then scream when your team somehow pulls it off.
Pakistan won. By 2 wickets. With 2 balls to spare. Yes, you read that right. Two wickets. Two balls. That’s not cricket — that’s a telenovela with a green jersey.
Disclaimer: This blog on the scorecard is intended for informational and editorial purposes only. Match details, player statistics, and scorecard information have been verified using publicly available cricket records and trusted sports platforms available at the time of writing. Statistics may be updated by official cricket boards, tournament organizers, or score providers.
The Match At A Glance
Before we dive deep into the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, here’s your quick cheat sheet:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st ODI, South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025 |
| Venue | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad |
| Date | November 4, 2025 (Day/Night) |
| Toss | Pakistan won, chose to field |
| South Africa Score | 263 all out (49.1 overs) |
| Pakistan Score | 264/8 (49.4 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 2 wickets (2 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Salman Agha, PAK — 62 (71) |
| Pakistan ODI Captain | Shaheen Shah Afridi (debut as ODI skipper) |
This was also a historic moment — Shaheen Shah Afridi began his ODI captaincy career with a win. And what a way to start.
South Africa Innings — A Total That Looked More Than Enough
So Pakistan decided to bowl first. Reasonable call. Home conditions, some early movement — makes sense.
South Africa came out swinging. Quinton de Kock, the ever-dangerous left-hander, top-scored with 63 off 71 balls. Lhuan-dre Pretorius — a name that might be new to some Pakistan fans — played a sharp 57 off 60 balls to give South Africa real momentum in the middle overs.
The Pakistani bowlers eventually pulled things back. Naseem Shah was the pick of the attack, returning figures of 3/40 in 9.1 overs. Abrar Ahmed backed him up beautifully with 3/53 in 9 overs, including an absolute magic wrong’un that set him up for a hat-trick at one point.
Shaheen Shah Afridi also chipped in with key wickets as the captain — getting his first wicket in ODI captaincy when he bowled Bosch through the gate with a lethal yorker in the final overs.
South Africa were eventually bundled out for 263 in 49.1 overs. It looked competitive. Actually, it looked like more than that on a surface where batting second wasn’t exactly a picnic.
Pakistan Innings — Nerve, Grit, And Then Some Drama
The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard shows Pakistan needed 264. And honestly? At various stages, it looked like they weren’t going to get there.
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub got Pakistan off to a solid start — a 50-run opening partnership that gave some early confidence. But Pakistan then lost wickets in a cluster, as they often do, just when you think everything is fine.
Then came the partnership that saved Pakistan’s evening. Mohammad Rizwan (55 off 74) and Salman Agha (62 off 71) stitched together a crucial 4th-wicket partnership of 50+ runs that brought Pakistan back into the chase. Rizwan, the experienced head, anchored things. Salman Agha, the cool customer, played the innings of his life to earn that Player of the Match award.
But — and this is peak Pakistan cricket — even after two solid fifties, the last few overs were absolute chaos. Wickets fell. Nawaz departed. The target kept looking closer and further away at the same time.
Full Scorecard Breakdown
Here’s the detailed look at the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard:
South Africa Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | 63 | 71 | Top scorer, strong start |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | 57 | 60 | Crucial middle-order knock |
| Rest of batting | Contributions | Varied | Multiple partnerships |
| TOTAL | 263 | 295 balls | 49.1 overs |
Pakistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | 9.1 | 40 | 3 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 9 | 53 | 3 |
| Corbin Bosch (SA) | 6.4 | 32 | 2 (Pakistan batting) |
| Lungi Ngidi (SA) | 9 | 46 | 2 (Pakistan batting) |
Pakistan Batting (Chase)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | Good start | — | Powerplay anchor |
| Saim Ayub | Positive start | — | Aggressive opener |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 55 | 74 | Spine of the chase |
| Salman Agha | 62 | 71 | Match-winner |
| TOTAL | 264/8 | 298 balls | 49.4 overs |
Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline
The story between these two sides goes way back. The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline is rich, dramatic, and often nail-bitingly close. Here’s the journey:
First Meeting (1992)
The very first Pakistan Vs South Africa Cricket Match took place on March 8, 1992, at the Benson & Hedges World Cup in Brisbane. South Africa won by 20 runs. A rivalry was born.
Pakistan Vs South Africa Champions (2006 & 2013 & 2017)
In Champions Trophy history, these two teams have met three times. Pakistan won via Duckworth-Lewis in 2006. The rivalry has always been competitive at ICC events.
Pakistan Vs South Africa T20 World Cup Record
This is where Pakistan truly shines. Pakistan have beaten South Africa in ALL FOUR T20 World Cup meetings — in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2022. Four played, four won. That’s the kind of record that makes fans very happy and opposition fans very nervous.
Pakistan In South Africa 2024-25
Pakistan toured South Africa and delivered in the ODIs — winning the series 3-0 in December 2024. Wins by 3 wickets, 81 runs, and 36 runs (DLS). The T20 series went to South Africa 2-0 (one match abandoned).
South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025
This is where our featured scorecard comes from. The full series saw Pakistan win the ODI series 2-1 — the 1st ODI win by 2 wickets (our match), the 2nd ODI going to South Africa by 8 wickets, and Pakistan winning the 3rd by 7 wickets.
Pakistan Vs South Africa Champions (World Championship of Legends 2025)
In August 2025, South Africa Champions got revenge in the WCL 2025 final at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Pakistan Champions posted 195/5, but AB de Villiers smashed a breathtaking unbeaten 120 off 60 balls — and South Africa Champions won by 9 wickets with 19 balls to spare. De Villiers was both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Expert Insight
Pakistan’s ability to win tight chases comes from experience in pressure situations. Rizwan and Salman Agha showed great game awareness — not trying to hit every ball for six, but rotating the strike smartly. That kind of temperament wins ODI series.” — Based on ESPNcricinfo match analysis, November 2025.
Pakistan Vs South Africa ODI — Who Has The Edge?
Let’s talk numbers, because Pakistan Vs South Africa ODI stats tell an interesting story.
Historically, South Africa have dominated the ODI head-to-head — leading 53-36 in 90 matches played. But recently? Pakistan have been closing that gap fast.
In the last 5 ODIs between the sides, Pakistan have won 3 and lost 2. Recent form clearly favours Pakistan, particularly at home.
Pakistan Vs South Africa T20 — The Format Where Pakistan Truly Rules
Mention Pakistan Vs South Africa T20 to any Pakistan fan and watch their face light up. In T20 Internationals overall, the two sides have played 27 matches — with Pakistan ahead 14-13. Extremely even. But at T20 World Cups specifically? Pakistan’s record is unblemished — 4 out of 4. Zero losses. Absolute dominance when the pressure is highest.
The 2009 T20 WC semi-final, where Shahid Afridi’s all-round brilliance sent Pakistan through, remains one of the most iconic moments in Pakistan Vs South Africa Cricket Match history.
Pakistan Vs South Africa Prediction — What Does The Future Hold?
So who wins the next big clash? Here’s the honest take on Pakistan Vs South Africa Prediction:
Pakistan’s strengths: Shaheen Afridi’s pace, Naseem Shah’s aggression, Abrar Ahmed’s mystery spin, and their batting firepower with Rizwan and Babar Azam. At home, Pakistan are formidable.
South Africa’s strengths: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and a batting lineup that can explode at any time. Quinton de Kock remains one of the most dangerous ODI openers in world cricket.
Verdict: On home soil, Pakistan will always start as favourites. Away from home, it’s a genuine toss-up. In T20 World Cups? History suggests Pakistan tend to find a way.
Why This Series Was Special — Shaheen’s Captaincy Debut
Something worth highlighting when looking at the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard beyond just the numbers: this match marked Shaheen Shah Afridi’s debut as Pakistan’s ODI captain. And he delivered — both with the ball (picking up key wickets) and in terms of leadership.
After the match, Shaheen said: “Whatever situation, just do your best and nothing more. I would give credit to our batsmen — they batted really well on a tough surface.”
That’s a leader who knows how to share credit. Good sign for Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan Vs South Africa ODI Series 2025 — Full Summary
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | Pakistan won by 2 wickets |
| 2nd ODI | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | South Africa won by 8 wickets |
| 3rd ODI | Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
| Series Result | — | Pakistan won 2-1 |
Conclusion
The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the 1st ODI in November 2025 is everything cricket should be — dramatic, close, nervy, and ultimately unforgettable. It also shows exactly why this Pakistan Vs South Africa Cricket Match rivalry is one worth following closely.
Whether you’re diving into the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline, marvelling at Pakistan’s unbeaten T20 World Cup record in Pakistan Vs South Africa T20 clashes, or checking the latest Pakistan Vs South Africa ODI head-to-head numbers — this rivalry keeps delivering.
If you grew up watching Sachin, or screaming for Kohli, or losing sleep over Rohit’s big knocks against England — the India National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard: 12 Unforgettable Cricket Moments is basically your childhood and your adulthood packed into one brilliant read.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI?
Pakistan won the match by 2 wickets.
2. Who was Player of the Match?
Salman Agha received the Player of the Match award for his outstanding 62-run innings.
3. What score did South Africa make?
South Africa scored 263 runs in 49.1 overs.
4. Who scored the most runs for Pakistan?
Salman Agha scored 62 runs and was Pakistan’s highest scorer.
5. Who scored the most runs for South Africa?
Quinton de Kock scored 63 runs from 71 balls.
6. Where was the match played?
The match was played at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan’s last-over drama didn’t happen in a vacuum — Cricket Score has been tracking this Pakistan-South Africa rivalry match by match, and the pattern is wilder than you’d expect.
