Saim Ayub achieves rare feat managed by only de Villiers, Amla and two others

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub continued his dream start in One-Day Internationals (ODI) at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on December 22 (Sunday) as the 22-year-old smashed his third hundred in just his ninth ODI.

He made it two in three games in this ongoing series against South Africa, following his match-winning 109 in a low-scoring game in Paarl in the first ODI.

By getting to three figures, Ayub achieved a very rare feat only managed by four batters previously, and one overseas batter. 

Indeed, Ayub became the fifth player ever to score multiple hundreds in a three-match bilateral series in South Africa. The only overseas batter to achieve the feat? Fakhar Zaman back in 2021.

Players to score multiple hundreds in a three-match ODI series in South Africa

AB de Villiers vs Zimbabwe in 2010

Hashim Amla vs Zimbabwe in 2010

Quinton de Kock vs India in 2013

Fakhar Zaman vs South Africa in 2021

Saim Ayub vs South Africa in 2024*

Ayub’s knock featured 13 fours and two sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 107.4, getting to his ton in the 34th over of the innings.

However, despite ample time being left in the innings, the youngster wasn’t able to convert the century into a massive one, perishing for 101, handing debutant Corbin Bosch his maiden international wicket.

Ayub gloved one trying to play a trademark pick-up pull behind the head of the wicketkeeper. It ballooned up and was safely taken by Heinrich Klaasen.