Razzaq hits explosive ton to halt South Africa’s run

Pakistan won by one wicket with a ball to spare in a thriller second day-nighter on Sunday night.

The 30-year-old Razzaq was the bogeyman, clubbing the South African attack out of the park with an explosive 109, his third century, from 72 with 10 mouth-watering sixes and seven boundaries. Three sixes came in one over off Charl Langeveldt. It was the most sixes by a Pakistan batsman in Abu Dhabi. He had 36 dot balls in his dream knock. Despite wickets falling around him, the man from Lahore kept them in the hunt. With two required from two balls, Razzaq cut it for a boundary between gully and point and then pumped his fists as his teammates ran into the ground.

Pakistan halted South Africa’s run of 10 consecutive wins and it was South Africa’s second one wicket defeat.

The series now heads to Dubai for the remaining three one-dayers.

South Africa had thrown the gauntlet earlier, after scoring a stiff 286 for 8. And Pakistan, woeful with the bat until now, lost their way a bit at 70-4 and it seemed like an all too familiar story once again. But captain Shahid Afridi took the challenge head on, firing a neat 49 from 40 balls with three boundaries and two lusty sixes. Fawad Alam too played a key role, anchoring the innings with 48 from 68 balls with three boundaries.

Afridi and Alam put on 66 runs for the fifth wicket before Razzaq and Alam came up with an 81-run stand for the sixth.

Earlier, South Africa’s No.3 Colin Ingram scored his second ODI hundred, making 100 from 119 balls with 10 boundaries and a six. Ingram, nicknamed ‘Bozie,’ had scored a century on debut in the home series against Zimbabwe.

Opener Hashim Amla made 65 from 62 balls with eight boundaries and JP Duminy scored 54 from 43 balls with three boundaries and a six.

Earlier, South Africa chugged along nicely despite losing an early wicket, that of opener Robin Peterson. The southpaw played across the line to a straight delivery from Razzaq and missed and it crashed into his off-stump. It was a wicket-maiden for Razzaq.

Ingram joined Amla and the two left-handers played a few quiet overs before bringing up the South African 50 in the 10^th over. Ingram then clubbed the one of two sixes of the South African innings, hoisting Razzaq over long-on.

South Africa moved along to 100 for 1 in 20 overs with Amla on 62 and Ingram on 32, before Amla fell leg before to captain Shahid Afridi. The Pakistan captain slipped in a quicker one and Amla was plumb in front. Amla’s 65 came from 62 balls with eight boundaries. The duo had put on 84 runs for the second wicket.

Ingram then brought up his 50 with a single off an outside edge down short third-man, off Afridi. The world’s No.1 ODI player AB de Villiers and Ingram put on 86 runs for the third wicket before de Villiers was castled by Afridi.

Ingram, who led a cat’s life, edging five boundaries down third-man, then brought up his second ODI hundred with a single off Ajmal. At 25, he became the youngest player to score a century in Abu Dhabi. But he departed soon after, leg before to a Riaz yorker. His 100 came off 118 balls, off which 60 were dot balls and was peppered with 10 boundaries and a six.

South Africa who had brought up their 200 for the loss of three wickets in the 38^th over, then lost a flurry of wickets, that of David Miller Albie Morkel and Johan Botha. JP Duminy brought up his eight ODI half-century before South Africa finished up at 286 for eight.

Left-arm quick Riaz took two for 43, while captain Afridi picked two for 59.

South Africa were forced to make two crucial changes to their XI. Captain and opener Graeme Smith, who was hit by a snorter from Shoaib Akhtar in the first ODI but X-rays revealed no damage, was held back as a precautionary measure. Robin Peterson came in for Smith. All-rounder Albie Morkel filled in for Kallis, who had suffered cramps and dehydration. Johan Botha stood in as captain in Smith’s absence.

Pakistan made one change, bringing in Wahad Riaz for Umar Gul.

james@khaleejtimes.com