Pakistan clinch a thriller against South Africa

An entertaining 28-run ninth-wicket partnership between Wahab Riaz and Zulqarnain Haider powered Pakistan to a thrilling one-wicket victory over South Africa in the fourth one-day international at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday night.

The win helped Pakistan level the five-match Cool & Cool Cup 2-2, with the decisive match to be played here on Monday.

South Africa, confident of a victory after the fall of Abdul Razzaq’s wicket in the 47th over, were in for a big shock, as Riaz and Haider kept their cool and added crucial runs in front of a weekend crowd of more than 23,000.

Though Riaz was run out for 18 in the third ball of the last over, Haider scored the winning runs with one ball to spare.

Pakistan’s chase was well guided by a patient half-century from Younis Khan. Pakistan formed steady partnerships in the match to overhaul the tough South African target of 275.

The risk-free and calculated approach by Younis helped Pakistan in the run chase, as the former captain added 58 for the second wicket, 56 for the third, 40 for the fifth and 49 for the sixth.

Abdul Razzaq’s fighting 33 from 38 balls kept Pakistan in the match after the fall of Younis’ wicket.

Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq and Shahid Afridi also chipped in with useful performances.

Morne Morkel took three wickets for South Africa.

Though opener Imran Farhat fell early, trapped in front by Morkel, the second wicket partnership between Hafeez and Younis added 58 runs at a brisk pace.

Hafeez, who picked up two wickets earlier, scored an entertaining 42 from 29 balls, before falling to Dale Steyn in the 10th over. Runs dried up for a while following the fall of Hafeez, but Asad Shafiq, in the company of Younis, put on 56 runs for the third wicket before Wayne Parnell’s brilliant throw from mid-on ended Shafiq’s resistance. The 24-year old Shafiq made 36 from 48 balls, including three fours.

Fawad Alam (6), who scored a half-century in the previous match, went early this time, giving a straight catch to David Miller at extra cover off the bowling of Jaques Kallis.

The 40-run fifth wicket partnership between Afridi and Younis brought back Pakistan into the match, but spinner Johan Botha provided the crucial breakthrough for South Africa in the 32nd over by dismissing the dangerous Afridi, who smashed a 25-ball 29, including four hits to the fence.

Earlier, Smith’s 92 powered South Africa to 274 for 6 in 50 overs. Smith, returning from injury, was in good touch, as he ensured that the early fall of in-form Hashim Amla, dismissed for 10 by Shoaib Akhtar, didn’t adversely affect the run-rate.

Smith hit 92 from 105 balls and added 94 runs for the third wicket with AB de Villiers. Smith, taking a cue from Amla’s century in last match’s two-run victory, played a sensible knock. Though missed out on scoring a century, Smith’s knock and the partnership he was involved in, helped South Africa post a challenging total.

Started steadily, the innings gained momentum towards the end with South Africa adding 54 runs from their five Batting powerplay overs. The seventh wicket partnership between Johan Botha and Colin Ingram smashed 48 runs from just 3.4 overs. Botha played a little cameo, hitting six fours in his 15-ball 28. Ingram played an impressive 27 from 25 balls, including three hits to the fence.

De Villiers played an uncharacteristic but effective knock, making 49 from 70 balls, without a six or four in his innings. Duminy made 36.

Shoaib Akthar, though impressive, was a bit expensive with figures of 2-51 from nine overs. Riaz was on the verge of a hat-trick after taking two consecutive wickets – Duminy and Miller -- in the 47th over, but proved expensive as he finished with figures of 2-61 from nine overs. Afridi and Abdur Rehman, who replaced an out-of-form Saeed Ajmal, were the only bowlers who finished their quotas of 10 overs, but both went wicket-less. Part-time spinner Hafeez took two wickets – including the prize scalp of Smith.

South Africa, who won the Twenty20 series as well, will also play two Tests against Pakistan, with the first Test starting next week here.

Pakistan

Imran Farhat lbw b Morkel 2

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Steyn 42

Younis Khan b Morkel 73

Asad Shafiq run out 36

Fawad Alam c Miller b Kallis 6

Shahid Afridi c Parnell b Botha 29

Abdul Razzaq c de Villiers b Morkel 33

Abdul Rehman run out 0

Zulqarnain Haider not out 19

Wahab Riaz run out 18

Shoaib Akhtar not out 0

Extras: (lb-4, nb-1, w-12) 17

Total: (for nine wickets) 275

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Hafeez), 2-64 (Hafeez), 3-120 (Shafiq), 4-131 (Alam), 5-171 (Afridi), 6-220 (Younis), 7-220 (Razzaq), 8-244 (Razzaq), 9-272 (Riaz)

Bowling: Morkel 10-0-48-3 (3w), Parnell 8.5-0-53-0 (6w), Steyn 10-0-79-1 (1w), Botha 10-0-42-1 (1nb), Kallis 9-0-40-1 (2w), Duminy 2-0-9-0.

Result: Pakistan won by one wicket

Toss: South Africa