Skipper Muhammad Huraira’s brilliant century, along with a quickfire half-century from Imam-ul-Haq, guided Pakistan Shaheens to a strong total against South Africa in their third warm-up match for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at National Bank Stadium on Monday.
Batting first, the Shaheens posted an impressive 322/8 in 50 overs, despite a strong bowling effort from Wiaan Mulder, who took 3/27.
The home side got off to a solid start with openers Huraira and Hassan Nawaz adding 50 runs for the first wicket before Wiaan Mulder dismissed Hassan. Imam-ul-Haq then joined Huraira at the crease, and the duo put the Shaheens in a commanding position with a 163-run partnership.
Huraira played a captain’s knock, scoring 110 off 114 deliveries, including 12 fours and a six, before Marco Jansen bowled him out. Imam-ul-Haq, meanwhile, was unfortunate to miss out on a century, getting run out by Rassie van der Dussen for a well-constructed 98 off 94 balls, featuring six fours and a six.
Following their dismissals, middle-order batters Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Khan kept the momentum going, stitching together a crucial 48-run stand for the fifth wicket. Sadaqat contributed 28 off 30 balls, while Saad’s explosive 30 off just 16 deliveries—featuring three fours and a six—helped push the total past 320.
For South Africa, Wiaan Mulder stood out with three wickets, while Marco Jansen bagged two. Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi chipped in with a wicket each.
Pakistan Shaheens' strong total has set up an exciting contest, with South Africa now facing a challenging chase in this crucial warm-up fixture.