Pakistan win thriller to level ODI series

A large holiday crowd of nearly 24,000 got their monies worth as Pakistan produced a record run chase under lights after South Africa electing to bat first had made 274 for six.

Former captain Younis Khan played the anchor role to set them on course to victory with a patient knock of 73 which contained just one boundary.

In another tense finish which saw South Africa effecting a couple of run outs but also missing out on some other chances, Pakistan survived some anxious moments as tailender Wahab Riaz (18) was ninth out in the third ball of the last over after adding 28 runs with Zulqarnain Haider with three runs needed for victory.

However, Haider held his nerve to hit the winning runs off left arm paceman Wayne Parnel in the penultimate ball of the match, remaining unbeaten on 19 to provide a thrilling finale to the Cool & Cool Cup one-day series. The final match takes place on Monday.

Morne Morkel finished with three for 48 while South African skipper Graeme Smith laid the foundation for their big total with a solid knock of 92.

However, he was also guilty of committing a comedy of errors, dropping a skier from Riaz off Morkel when he was on one after Abdul Razzaq had been caught behind by AB de Villiers a few balls earlier after hitting a brisk 33 off 38 balls.

Pakistan were off to a flying start despite losing opener Imran Farhat in the first over trapped leg before by Morkel and were always ahead of the required rate.

Mohammed Hafeez exemplified their positive approach with a fluent innings of 42 off just 29 balls which contained five sweetly timed hits to the fence. Hafeez set the pace of the innings by adding 58 off 54 balls for the second wicket with Younis Khan.

Dale Steyn, making his first appearance on the tour, struck in his third over trapping Hafeez in front as the batsman attempted to flick him over midwicket.

Asad Shafique continued the momentum with a 48-ball 36 with three boundaries during a 56-run stand off 76 balls for the third wicket with Khan before being run out by a direct hit from Parnell going for a quick single.

Fawad Alam lasted just eight before miscuing Kallis to Miller at extra cover but Pakistan were still ahead of the required rate when skipper Afridi walked in with the total on 131 for four in the 25^th over.

He did not disappoint one of the biggest crowds ever seen at the stadium in Dubai officially given as 23,473, by unleashing some blistering drives. He began by smashing Kallis over mid on to end his spell while Steyn was hit for three boundaries in one over when he returned for a new one. The first ball was blasted over the bowler’s head and followed by identical rapier-like shots to long off.

Just when Afridi seemed set for a big knock, impatience got the better of him mistiming a lofted shot off spinner Botha for Parnell at long off to taking a diving catch. Afridi’s contribution was 29 off 25 balls during his 40-run alliance for the fifth wicket with Khan.

There was a minor hiccup when Pakistan stumbled to 220 for six as Younis Khan and Abdul Rehman departed within the space of three balls with the latter attempting a suicidal single.

Khan played the sheet anchor role in his 200^th one-day innings facing 115 balls during his patient vigil at the middle. His 39^th one-day half century contained just one boundary in the 37^th over of the innings when he drove Morkel through mid off. It came to an end in the 43^rd over when he dragged a Morkel delivery onto his stumps in a rare lapse of concentration.

South Africa’s innings was powered by a solid half century from Smith who was returning after sitting out two games because of a hand injury.

Pakistan produced a mixed performance on the field and looked like containing South Africa to a total of less than 250 at one stage.

But an enterprising unbroken 48-run stand in just 24 balls for the seventh wicket between Colin Ingram and Johan helped South Africa record the highest total on this venue surpassing the previous best of 228 made by them on Tuesday.

South Africa also produced their best performance of the series in the batting powerplay overs by making 54 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Botha who denied left arm paceman Riaz a hat-trick in the 47^th over was unbeaten on 28 off 15 balls which was spiced with six boundaries, including two reverse sweeps off Hafeez. Ingram’s run-a-ball knock of 27 contained three hits to the ropes.

Off spinner Mohammad Hafeez had the best figures of two for 37 while Shoaib Akhtar and Riaz went for plenty although picking up two overs.

Smith’s 42^nd one-day half century was studded with nine hits to the ropes as he dominated a tired looking Pakistan attack to set the tempo of the South African innings.

He hitting solid shots on either side square of the wicket making his in-form opening partner Hashim Amla look pedestrian during their partnership of 35.

Amla faced just 12 balls for his 10 which contained a lovely back cut to third man off Abdul Razzaq but found the searing pace of Akhtar too hot to handle miscuing a pull to Imran Farhat at mid wicket.

Jacques Kallis also looked leaden footed and couldn’t get going although smashing two boundaries in one over from Razzaq before attempting to sweep off spinner Mohammad Hafeez but only scooping it to Asad Shafique at mid wicket.

South Africa had slipped to 62 for two in the 14^th over but Smith who had become the sixth player to reach 5,000 runs as captain in one-day internationals was in no mood to slow down. He greeted left arm paceman Riaz by smashing him to the fence thrice.

Smith was the dominant partner in the 94 run partnership for the third wicket with AB de Villiers which was the highest for any wicket in the Dubai stadium before being harshly adjudged leg before hitting across the line to a delivery from Hafeez.

An inspired spell of bowling by Akhtar and Riaz put the skids on the South African scoring rate momentarily.

AB de Villiers who had grafted for 49 off 70 balls without hitting a boundary fell in the 41^st over attempting to smash Akhtar over point but only slicing it to Hafeez.

In a dramatic 47^th over Riaz yorked Jean Paul Duminy (36) and David Miller in successive deliveries before Botha denied him a hat-trick.