‘When God Helps, You Break All Kinds of Records’: Mohammad Rizwan on Pakistan’s Highest-Ever ODI Chase

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Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan credited divine intervention and his team’s determination after scripting Pakistan’s highest-ever successful run chase in ODIs against South Africa in Karachi. The remarkable chase saw Pakistan hunt down 353 in just 49 overs with six wickets in hand, securing a place in the tri-nation series final against New Zealand on Friday.

Following the record-breaking victory, Rizwan expressed his gratitude, highlighting the belief within the team despite the daunting target.

“When God helps, you break all kinds of records,” said Rizwan. “We were looking to restrict them to 320, but (Heinrich) Klaasen took them to 350. When we were going back after the first innings, Khushdil (Shah) reminded us that we had chased 350 before, which inspired us.“

While Pakistan celebrated their historic achievement, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma pointed towards the batting-friendly conditions, lamenting his bowlers’ inability to break partnerships.

“It was a good wicket, and it was tough work for bowlers,” Bavuma admitted. “We needed wickets in the middle, which we didn’t get.”

Rizwan-Salman’s Record Partnership Powers Pakistan to Historic Chase

Pakistan’s chase was powered by two heroic knocks:

🔥 Mohammad Rizwan – 122 off 128 balls*
🔥 Salman Ali Agha – 134 off 103 balls (maiden ODI century)

The two batters shared a record fourth-wicket partnership of 260 runs, breaking Pakistan’s previous highest fourth-wicket stand of 206 between Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan against India in 2009.

The duo completely dominated South Africa’s bowling attack, playing with maturity, patience, and calculated aggression.

  • Babar Azam (23) and Fakhar Zaman (41) fell early, putting Pakistan in trouble.
  • Rizwan and Salman steadied the innings, absorbing pressure before accelerating in the later overs.
  • Rizwan brought up his century with a six over mid-wicket, while Salman reached his first-ever ODI ton three balls later.

🚀 Rizwan’s Innings:
✅ 9 boundaries
✅ 3 sixes
✅ Match-winning stability

🚀 Salman’s Knock:
✅ 16 fours
✅ 2 sixes
✅ Explosive strokeplay under pressure

Pakistan’s fearless approach in the final overs ensured they comfortably chased the target with an over to spare.

🇿🇦 South Africa’s Strong Batting Effort Falls Short

Despite setting a massive 352/5, South Africa’s bowlers failed to defend the total for the second consecutive game, following a similar loss to New Zealand.

Key Performers for South Africa:
✅ Heinrich Klaasen – 87 off 69 balls
✅ Matthew Breetzke – 83 off 76 balls
✅ Temba Bavuma – 82 off 95 balls
✅ Kyle Verreynne – 44 off 32 balls* (late surge)

South Africa looked set for an even bigger total before Pakistan’s spinners applied brakes in the middle overs. However, Klaasen’s late acceleration pushed them past 350.

Bowling Battle – Pakistan’s Attack Holds Its Nerve

While South Africa’s pacers struggled, Pakistan’s bowling attack delivered key breakthroughs to limit the damage.

  • Shaheen Afridi (1/64) – Bowled aggressively in the powerplay
  • Khushdil Shah (2/54) – Dismissed key players at the right moments
  • Shadab Khan & Haris Rauf – Kept the middle overs tight

The game also witnessed a tense moment between Shaheen Afridi and Matthew Breetzke, after a run-attempt led to an aggressive exchange. However, both players downplayed the incident as a misunderstanding post-match.

What’s Next? Pakistan to Face New Zealand in the Final

With this record-breaking win, Pakistan advances to the tri-nation series final, where they will face New Zealand.

🚨 Key Talking Points Ahead of the Final:

  • Pakistan’s batting form is peaking at the right time – Can they chase another big total?
  • South Africa’s bowling needs a rethink – Two 350+ scores conceded in consecutive matches.
  • Rizwan & Salman’s confidence – Will they carry momentum into the final?

As Pakistan eyes another title, South Africa will have to regroup and address their bowling concerns before their next international assignment.

A Historic Chase to Remember!

Pakistan’s incredible run-chase against South Africa will be remembered as one of their finest moments in ODI history. With Rizwan and Salman rewriting the record books, this victory not only secured a spot in the final but also demonstrated Pakistan’s growing confidence in high-pressure chases.

As Rizwan put it, sometimes, 

“When God helps, you break all kinds of records.”

What are your thoughts on Pakistan’s record-breaking chase? Can they repeat this performance against New Zealand? Drop your opinions below!

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