South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs despite a heroic inning from Fakhar Zaman

South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs: Earlier in the day after winning the toss, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam put South Africa to bat. After losing Markram’s early, two-century partnership Quinton de Kock-Temba Bavuma and Bavuma-Van der Dussen helped South Africa to set a mammoth total for Pakistan.

South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs: Bavuma anchored the innings but unfortunately got out missing out on his second hundred scoring 92 off 102 balls with nine boundaries. Quinton de Kock too could not convert his fine knock into a century scoring almost a run-a-ball 80 with one six and ten boundaries setting up a strong platform for the middle orders to capitalize.

Rassie van der Dussen played a blistering inning of 60 runs in just 37 balls with four sixes and six boundaries. David Miller finishes it up in style for SA scoring a half-century off just 27 balls with three sixes and three boundaries.

South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs: It was an off day for bowlers with almost 650 runs scored off 100 overs. But Haris Rauf bowled well picking up three wickets giving away just 54 runs off his 10 in a high-scoring match. Haris picked up all-important wickets of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma. Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Hasnain & Faheem Ashraf took one wicket each.

South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs: Chasing a huge total, an early blow of Imam-ul- Haq dismissed by Lungi Ngidi in the second over was a setback for Pakistan. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman steadied the innings scoring almost seven runs per over in the first powerplay. With 70/1 in 10 overs, Pakistan looked comfortable but a bowling change changed the complexion of the match with Anrich Nortje picking up three quick wickets.

South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs: After that, Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals but at the other end, Fakhar Zaman kept Pakistan’s hope alive. Struggling with the form in the recent past, the opener displayed a marvelous batting performance almost single-handedly taking the match close. The opener hit 10 sixes and 18 boundaries to score his 193. He was all set to score his second double hundred in ODI got run out in the last over with Pakistan short by 17 runs.

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The Controversial run-out: The runout has become a controversy as Zaman was blindsided by the gesture of Quinton de Kock. Quinton was waiting to collect the ball but gestured as if the fielder to throw the ball at the non-striker end distracted Zaman who looked back and slowed down and a direct hit from the outfield at the striker end took his wicket.

The series is leveled now with 1-1 and with all to play for in the third ODI, Five stars South African players including Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Anrich Nortje are heading to India for the IPL. Seeing the form the Pakistans are in it will be tough for South Africa to beat Pakistan in the 3rd ODI and clinch the series.

THE third and decider ODI will be played on 7th April 2021 at SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion.

Playing XI: South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (w), Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf

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