Pakistan vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, 4th ODI: Pakistan wins another cliff-hanger in Dubai
The ongoing One-Day International series between Pakistan and South Africa continues to provide pulsating action as the two sides played out another cliff-hanger at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan edging
out their rivals on the penultimate ball of the match.
They looked down and out when the hero of the second ODI Abdul Razzaq (33 off 38 balls) perished in the 47th over of the innings with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 needing 31 runs to win.
Yet Wahab Riaz and wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider held their nerves and brought their team back in the hunt with some scintillating stroke play and bold running between the wickets.
Wahab, who had struck 21 runs off only 11 balls in the 3rd match of the series in an effort that almost gave Pakistan a win, smeared 18 off 10 balls to shock the Proteas and take his team to within 3 runs of an improbable
win.
There was more drama to follow as last man Shoaib Akhtar barely reached his crease in time to avoid being run out as Wayne Parnell’s attempt of breaking the stumps at the non-strikers end failed.
Zulqarnain then flicked the ball towards the leg side to give his team a much-needed win that kept alive the five-match series (now levelled 2-2).
Earlier in the day, South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat in batting friendly condition. He lost his opening partner and centurion from the last match Hashim Amla for 10 runs when the right hander’s
attempted pull shot off a Shoaib Akhtar delivery ended up in the hands of Imran Farhat placed at square-leg.
The South Africans lost their second wicket when Jacques Kallis played Mohammad Hafeez into the hands of Asad Shafiq placed at the midwicket fence; the right-handed all-rounder scored 15 runs off 22 balls. His innings included
2 fours.
The big total by the Proteas was built around the third wicket stand between Smith and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887.
The two added 94 runs in their association, which was broken when Smith fell lbw to Hafeez for 92 runs. His innings included 9 fours and came off 105 balls.
The South Africans gradually continued to build towards a formidable total; the fall of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JP-Duminy-c1742 for 36 and De Villiers for 49 did not hurt them a great deal.
Duminy was bowled by Wahab Riaz in the 46th over of the innings and on the next ball Wahab accounted for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Miller-c53105 with an almost unplayable yorker that sent the stumps flying.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Johan-Botha-c67173 then played a vital (unbeaten) cameo at the end of the innings; he struck 28 runs off 15 balls, hitting 6 fours in his innings.
Botha’s effort took the Proteas to 274/6 in the allotted overs. For Pakistan, Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Akhtar claimed 2 wickets each.
Despite the loss of Imran Farhat (2 off 3 balls) in the opening over of their innings, the Pakistani batsmen got off to a flying start in their chase of the target. Mohammad Hafeez and Younis Khan were in a positive frame of mind
and Hafeez attacked the bowlers by playing some delightful shots in his innings.
He was dismissed for 42 when he missed a straighter one from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn and was trapped plumb in front.
Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan added 56 runs in their third wicket stand; the talented Asad hit 3 boundaries and Younis dropped anchor at the other end.
He was dismissed when he attempted a risky run and Wayne Parnell’s direct throw caught him out of his crease. The Karachi right-hander scored 36 runs off 42 balls.
Fawad Alam fell for 6 runs, while skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who started out sensibly, perished when he looked set for a big one.
Afridi (29 off 25 balls) took 3 boundaries off one Steyn over, yet as always failed to keep his head and lofted Botha to long-off where Parnell held onto a difficult chance.
Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq added 49 runs for the 6th wicket; Younis was bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722 for a well-compiled 73-run knock that came off 115 balls.
In the end, it was the brave partnership between Zulqarnain and Wahab Riaz that sealed an unlikely 1 wicket (with 1 ball remaining) win for Pakistan. The deciding match in the series is set to be played on Monday at the same venue.
Tags: