South Africa down Pakistan despite Fakhar's superhuman effort

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Pakistan were denied a miracle as South Africa overcame the visitors by 17 runs despite the near superhuman effort by opener Fakhar Zaman after a nail-biting encounter at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The win tied the series at one apiece after Pakistan had won the first One-Day International (ODI) on Friday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 342, Pakistan were off to a horror start as opener Imamul Haq fell early, caught by fielder Aiden Markram off the bowling of pacer Lungi Ngidi, after scoring just five runs off 10 balls.

Skipper Babar Azam played a rare loose shot and was caught by fielder Temba Bavuma off the bowling of Anrich Nortje after scoring 31 runs off 33 balls.

A fired up Nortje then removed Mohammad Rizwan (0) and Danish Aziz (9) to push Pakistan on the backfoot.

Leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi removed all-rounder Shadab Khan through an LBW decision as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

The next two batsmen Asif Ali (19 off 27) and Faheem Ashraf (11 off 12) fell to all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo as Pakistan stared at the prospect of a crushing loss in the second ODI.

When all seemed lost, opener Fakhar Zaman who had been quietly continuing an immaculate knock pushed things into high gear. The hard-hitting batsman took all bowlers to the cleaners and almost delivered a miraculous victory to his side.

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In the last over, however, requiring at least four sixes to win, Fakhar was run-out after scoring a monumental 193-run knock off just 155 balls as the Proteas took a big sigh of relief.

In the end, Pakistan fell short of just 17 runs finishing the day at 324 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

Nortje was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa picking up three wickets in his allotted overs.

Earlier, a ruthless South Africa batting unit charged to a mammoth 341-run total against Pakistan in their allotted overs for the loss of just six wickets in the second One-Day International (ODI) between the two sides at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

After losing the toss and being put into bat first by Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam, the Proteas got off to a stable start with a 55-run partnership.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf provided the first breakthrough for the Men in Green removing opener Aiden Markram, caught by fielder Asif Ali, after the batsman had scored 39 runs off 34 balls.

A monumental 114-run partnership followed as captain Temba Bavuma joined opener Quinton de Kock to provide a solid foundation for their side.

Pacer Haris Rauf finally got the better of the explosive Quinton de Kock, rattling his stumps, after the batsman had managed 80 runs off 86 balls.

Pakistan’s misery however continued as Rassie van der Dussen joined Bavuma for a 101-run partnership off just 69 balls that boosted the morale of the Proteas side.

Dussen was then removed by pacer Mohammad Hasnain, caught by fielder Faheem Ashraf, after the batsman had scored a quickfire 60-run knock off just 37 balls.

Temba Bavuma was the next to depart, missing out on a ton, after being caught by fielder Babar Azam off the bowling of pacer Haris Rauf after scoring 92 runs off 102 balls.

Pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah then removed batsman Heinrich Klaasen and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo as Pakistan looked set to restrict South Africa towards the end.

Batsman David Miller however had other ideas, scoring the fastest fifty for South Africa off just 27 balls, to remain unbeaten at the end while propelling his side to 341 runs.

Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up three wickets at the expense of 54 runs in his ten overs.

Fakhar Zaman was adjudged the player of the match after his incredible knock with the bat.

Pakistan were denied a miracle as South Africa overcame the visitors by 17 runs despite the near superhuman effort by opener Fakhar Zaman after a nail-biting encounter at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The win tied the series at one apiece after Pakistan had won the first One-Day International (ODI) on Friday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 342, Pakistan were off to a horror start as opener Imamul Haq fell early, caught by fielder Aiden Markram off the bowling of pacer Lungi Ngidi, after scoring just five runs off 10 balls.

Skipper Babar Azam played a rare loose shot and was caught by fielder Temba Bavuma off the bowling of Anrich Nortje after scoring 31 runs off 33 balls.

A fired up Nortje than removed Mohammad Rizwan (0) and Danish Aziz (9) to push Pakistan on the backfoot.

Leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi removed all-rounder Shadab Khan through an LBW decision as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

The next two batsmen Asif Ali (19 off 27) and Faheem Ashraf (11 off 12) fell to all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo as Pakistan stared at the prospect of a crushing loss in the second ODI.

When all seemed lost, opener Fakhar Zaman who had been quietly continuing an immaculate knock pushed things into high gear. The hard-hitting batsman took all bowlers to the cleaners and almost delivered a miraculous victory to his side.

In the last over however, requiring at least four sixes to win, Fakhar was run-out after scoring a monumental 193-run knock off just 155 balls as the Proteas took a big sigh of relief.

In the end Pakistan fell short of just 17 runs finishing the day at 324 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

Nortje was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa picking up three wickets in his allotted overs.

Earlier, a ruthless South Africa batting unit charged to a mammoth 341-run total against Pakistan in their allotted overs for the loss of just six wickets in the second One-Day International (ODI) between the two sides at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

After losing the toss and being put into bat first by Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam, the Proteas got off to a stable start with a 55-run partnership.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf provided the first breakthrough for the Men in Green removing opener Aiden Markram, caught by fielder Asif Ali, after the batsman had scored 39 runs off 34 balls.

A monumental 114-run partnership followed as captain Temba Bavuma joined opener Quinton de Kock to provide a solid foundation for their side.

Pacer Haris Rauf finally got the better of the explosive Quinton de Kock, rattling his stumps, after the batsman had managed 80 runs off 86 balls.

Pakistan’s misery however continued as Rassie van der Dussen joined Bavuma for a 101-run partnership off just 69 balls that boosted the morale of the Proteas side.

Dussen was then removed by pacer Mohammad Hasnain, caught by fielder Faheem Ashraf, after the batsman had scored a quickfire 60-run knock off just 37 balls.

Temba Bavuma was the next to depart, missing out on a ton, after being caught by fielder Babar Azam off the bowling of pacer Haris Rauf after scoring 92 runs off 102 balls.

Pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah then removed batsman Heinrich Klaasen and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo as Pakistan looked set to restrict South Africa towards the end.

Batsman David Miller however had other ideas, scoring the fastest fifty for South Africa off just 27 balls, to remain unbeaten at the end while propelling his side to 341 runs.

Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up three wickets at the expense of 54 runs in his ten overs.

Fakhar Zaman was adjudged the player of the match after his incredible knock with the bat.