Thanks to Saim Ayub’s ton and Salman Ali Agha’s calm head, Pakistan beat South Africa in a nail-biting contest for the first ODI of the three-match series at the Boland Park in Paarl on Tuesday.

Left-handed batter Ayub set the tone for his team by making a century and ensuring that Pakistan chased the 240-run target set by the hosts.

Ayub, a young all-rounder, made 109 off 119 deliveries. He hit 10 fours and three maximums.

But it was an all-round performance from vice-captain Salman Ali Agha who performed well with both bat and ball. He took four wickets on a track that favoured spinners.

The right-arm spinner got the breakthrough when he picked early wickets, including Tony de Zori, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, and Tristan Stubbs.

Coming at the number six position, he made a 141-run partnership with Ayub. He came to the crease when the left-handed batter looked to be the lone ranger. The role reversed when his partner got off Kagiso Rabbada’s delivery at the fine leg.

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The match looked slipping away from Pakistan’s hands when Irfan Khan Niazi and Shaheen Afridi got out. It was up to Naseem Shah to rotate strike with Salman.

As commentator Ramiz Raja said, Salman and Naseem were “testing Pakistani fans.” The tailender managed to survive spinner Tabraiz Shamsi’s overs.

The game was finished in the last over. Agha hit the winning shot when Pakistan needed 2 off four deliveries.

Agha shared his player of the match trophy with Ayub. “It was fantastic in the middle with Ayub as he gave me a lot of confidence at the start of my innings,” the all-rounder said.

He said that the reason for sharing the award was that it was not easy to face the new ball and continue to bat with wickets falling around him and then get to a hundred against such a bowling attack.

Ayub was of the view that keeping the belief was important and partnership with a senior player gave him a lot of experience.