Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique leaves the field after being dismissed by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, for a duck during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique has bagged an unwanted record during the side’s three-match ODI series against South Africa by getting out for ducks in all the matches. He is the first batsman to do so in the game’s history.
The third duck in Johannesburg also ensured that he is the Pakistan opener with the most number of ducks in a calendar year. In 2024, the 25-year-old registered seven ducks across 21 innings.
Shafique has surpassed the previous tally of Imran Nazir who had six ducks across 32 innings in 2000 and Mohammed Hafeez the same number of ducks from 43 innings in 2012.
However, the world record for most number of ducks in a calendar year is eight which is held by Herschelle Gibbs in 2002 from 51 innings and Tillakaratne Dilshan in 2012 from 56 innings.
Cleansweep
Pakistan completed a 3-0 sweep of its ODI series against South Africa, winning the third match by 36 runs under the DLS method.
Opener Saim Ayub hit 101 runs in 94 balls as Pakistan scored 308-9 at the Wanderers in a game reduced to 47 overs by rain. South Africa was all out for 271 in 42 overs in pursuit of a winning target of 308.
Pakistan batted first after losing the toss and was 1-1 when it lost Abdullah Shafique in the first over. The innings took off with Ayub involved in two key stands — 114 runs for the second wicket with Babar Azam (52 in 71), and 93 runs for the third with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53 in 52).
The 22-year-old Ayub, who scored 109 in the first ODI, was caught behind against debutant Corbin Bosch. Ayub hit two sixes and 13 fours. Middle-order batter Salman Agha padded the total with a 33-ball 48.
South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada took 3-56.
In reply, Heinrich Klaasen top scored for the hosts with 81 runs in 43 balls, and Bosch finished 40 not out. Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem took 4-52 in eight overs.
Pakistan had already secured the one-day international series, winning the opener by three wickets and the second ODI by 81 runs.
Pakistan’s fifth successive bilateral ODI series win puts it in good stead for the Champions Trophy it will host in February
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