Saim Ayub hit a half-century and spinner Abrar Ahmed took four wickets as Pakistan defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the third one-day international on Saturday, clinching the series 2-1.

Left-handed opener Ayub struck 11 boundaries and a six in his 70-ball 77, guiding Pakistan to a 144-run chase in 25.1 overs after Abrar’s 4-27 had bowled out South Africa for 143 in 37.5 overs.

Ayub added 65 runs for the second wicket with Babar Azam (27) after Nandre Burger dismissed opener Fakhar Zaman for nought with the second ball of the innings.

Azam was run out, disappointing the packed 16,000 crowd at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, having now gone 32 innings without an ODI hundred.

Ayub was dismissed by spinner Bjorn Fortuin before Mohammad Rizwan, 32 not out, and Salman Agha, five not o

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