JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Pakistan completed a 3-0 sweep of its ODI series against South Africa, winning the third match by 36 runs under the DLS method on Sunday.
Opener Saim Ayub hit 101 runs in 94 balls as Pakistan scored 308-9 at the Wanderers in a game reduced to 47 overs by rain. South Africa was all out for 271 in 42 overs in pursuit of a winning target of 308.
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Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, right, celebrates with teammate Salman Ali Agha, after dismissing South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen for 81 runs during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada takes evasive action against a bouncer during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique takes a catch too dismiss South Africa's Bjorn Fortuin for 8 runs during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan watches as South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen plays a shot during the second ODI International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub is hit by a delivery from South Africa's Corbin Bosch during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, right, bowls as Pakistan's Saim Ayub watches on during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Babar Azam watches his stroke shot during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub holds the Player of the Match and Player of the Series trophies following the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's players pose with the trophy following the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan batted first after losing the toss and was 1-1 when it lost Abdullah Shafique in the first over. The innings took off with Ayub involved in two key stands — 114 runs for the second wicket with Babar Azam (52 in 71), and 93 runs for the third with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53 in 52).
The 22-year-old Ayub, who scored 109 in the first ODI, was caught behind against debutant Corbin Bosch. Ayub hit two sixes and 13 fours. Middle-order batter Salman Agha padded the total with a 33-ball 48.
South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada took 3-56.
In reply, Heinrich Klaasen top scored for the hosts with 81 runs in 43 balls, and Bosch finished 40 not out. Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem took 4-52 in eight overs.
Pakistan had already secured the one-day international series, winning the opener by three wickets and the second ODI by 81 runs.
South Africa won the three-match Twenty20 series 2-0. The teams will play two tests, starting Thursday at Centurion.
Pakistan’s fifth successive bilateral ODI series win puts it in good stead for the Champions Trophy it will host in February.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, right, celebrates with teammate Salman Ali Agha, after dismissing South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen for 81 runs during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada takes evasive action against a bouncer during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique takes a catch too dismiss South Africa's Bjorn Fortuin for 8 runs during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan watches as South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen plays a shot during the second ODI International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub is hit by a delivery from South Africa's Corbin Bosch during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, right, bowls as Pakistan's Saim Ayub watches on during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Babar Azam watches his stroke shot during the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's Saim Ayub holds the Player of the Match and Player of the Series trophies following the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Pakistan's players pose with the trophy following the third International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tyler Higbee waited nearly a year for this moment.
And once the Los Angeles Rams tight end had the ball in his hands, he wasn't letting anyone stop him from getting into the end zone.
With the game tied against the New York Jets early in the fourth quarter Sunday, Higbee caught a short pass from Matthew Stafford, rumbled down the sideline and dived over the goal line for a go-ahead 11-yard score in the Rams' 19-9 victory.
“I didn’t know I was going to have to jump,” said Higbee, who made his season debut after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee in the playoffs last January. "I met a lot of guys at the pylon and I lowered my shoulder trying to get in there. Then I saw a little opening and thought I’d take it.
“In the air, it felt a little bit like ‘Space Jam’ Michael Jordan with his arm out there. This has got to get in.”
It was — and it turned out to be the winning score as the Rams (9-6) got their fourth straight victory and maintained their spot atop the NFC West standings after a slow start against the Jets (4-11) on a day when it was a frosty 23 degrees (minus-5 Celsius) at kickoff.
“A strange game,” Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged after several long possessions by both teams throughout the day.
But Los Angeles' defense, which struggled most of the game against Rodgers and New York's offense, came up with a momentum-turning play.
After Joshua Karty tied it at 9 with a 38-yard field goal, Kam Curl sacked Rodgers on a blitz and forced a fumble that Jared Verse recovered at the Jets 21.
“As I was falling, it landed right on top of me,” Verse said. “One of those things: right place at the right time.”
Three plays later, Stafford found Higbee for the go-ahead TD.
“Just happy for him to get out there and play," Stafford said. "And to be able to cap it off with a touchdown with a great effort at the end, it was awesome.”
Higbee, who also had shoulder surgery in the offseason, was mobbed by his Rams teammates.
“I almost passed out," he said with a smile. "It was very humbling.”
Rodgers limped a bit off the field after the strip-sack and briefly went to the injury tent, but returned on the Jets' next series.
"That was bad — a bad play," said Rodgers, who said his knee was OK, but added he should've dumped off the ball to avoid the sack.
Karty's 45-yard field goal put the Rams up by two scores at 19-9 with 5:17 left.
The Jets couldn't muster a comeback attempt. Anders Carlson's 48-yard attempt with 1:57 remaining was wide right. New York had another chance to get the ball, but Jordan Whittington recovered Xavier Gipson's muffed punt return to seal the victory for the Rams.
Stafford was 6 of 10 for 46 yards and an interception in the first half, and finished 14 of 19 for 110 yards. Kyren Williams ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
Rodgers was 28 of 42 for 256 yards and a touchdown to Davante Adams in the loss that overshadowed a promising start for New York.
“The rhythm disappeared, I think,” Rodgers said of the Jets’ offense mostly stalling after its hot start and finishing 2 of 5 on fourth down.
After Jacob Hummel downed Ethan Evans' punt on the Rams' opening possession at the Jets 1, Rodgers and New York's offense got rolling quickly with a 99-yard touchdown drive.
Helped by five first downs, including an 8-yard completion to Adams on fourth-and-2 from the 20, the Jets got down to the Rams 11. Rodgers pulled off a pretty play-action fake, rolled to his right and found Adams for a touchdown that gave New York a 6-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Carlson was wide left on the extra point, his second miss this season.
It was Rodgers' 499th regular-season TD pass and the 82nd time he and Adams have combined for a score, including the playoffs, tying Miami's Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most in NFL history.
Tony Adams intercepted Stafford on the Rams' next drive, ending the Rams quarterback's career-best streak of five games without a turnover. But the Jets turned the ball over on downs when interim coach Jeff Ulbrich opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 but Breece Hall was stopped for no gain, giving Los Angeles the ball at New York's 33.
The Rams took advantage of the short field when Williams went up the middle for a 2-yard TD run, but Karty hit the right upright and the teams were tied at 6 late in the second quarter.
Jets DL Quinnen Williams tested out his injured hamstring a few hours before the game, but was scratched. ... CB Sauce Gardner sat out the second half with a hamstring injury. ... Tony Adams injured an ankle in the third quarter. ... Rookie LT Olu Fashanu hurt his left foot midway through the fourth quarter and was on crutches after the game. Ulbrich said the team would know more after Fashanu has tests.
Rams: Host the NFC West-rival Arizona Cardinals next Saturday night.
Jets: Head to Buffalo to take on the AFC East-rival Bills next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams runs against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) greets Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) before an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) celebrates with cornerback Brandin Echols (26) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (4) breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (24) celebrates with teammates over New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) slides in front of Los Angeles Rams safety Jaylen McCollough during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes as New York Jets safety Chuck Clark, bottom left, applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
CORRECTS PLAYER TO TYLER HIGBEE - Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, middle, jumps toward the end zone past New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, left, and linebacker Quincy Williams to score during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
