Pakistan were unable to manage a decent total as South Africa cruised to an easy four-wicket win in the final ODI. PHOTO: AFP
Vernon Philander led a strong performance by South Africa’s bowlers to set up a four-wicket consolation win for the hosts in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Saturday.
Philander took three for 26 in a Pakistan total of 179 all out. South Africa made heavy weather of the chase but won with 68 balls to spare, steered home by an unbeaten 48 from captain AB de Villiers.
Pakistan’s Misbahul Haq also played a captain’s innings, making 79 not out. But he did not get much support as no other Pakistan batsman scored more than 25.
The best stand of the innings was 51 for the eighth wicket between Misbah and Abdur Rehman (22).
South Africa made a fast start, with Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla putting on 39 on 35 balls for the first wicket before De Kock mistimed a hook against Bilawal Bhatti and was caught at backward square leg.
The momentum slowed as new cap Henry Davids was tied down by Saeed Ajmal before being stumped off the off-spinner after struggling to seven off 18 balls.
Amla made 41 before being run out after a superb stop and quick throw by Umar Amin at backward point. De Villiers ensured that South Africa successfully chased down a target for the first time in eight recent attempts, facing 63 balls and hitting three boundaries.
De Villiers was happy with the team’s overall performance, staging a consolation win after losing the series.
“I thought we bowled exceptionally well and we easily adapted to conditions this morning,” he said. “It was tough to come out and bat against a world-class attack. Happy with how we stuck it through.”
He also said this would help the team with the upcoming home series against India. “They have been playing really good cricket around the world and are number one and will be a great challenge for us.”
Misbah, on the other hand, took positives from the defeat and hoped the team could continue with the form against Sri Lanka.
“Really happy with how everyone played, and even though I am a bit disappointed with today, there is a lot we achieved on this tour,” he said.
“We have so many choices in the bowling department. If you have choices like that then you can really go for it. This should help us in the Sri Lanka tour.”
Ajmal, voted man of the series, was again the best Pakistan bowling, taking two for 34 in 10 overs.
“I am very happy with my captain, my team-mates,” said Ajmal after the match. “I come to bowl and get the wickets, so I do it. It’s not easy but we work hard.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2013.
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Hafeez and Afridi have been blocking youngsters for years now, time to drop Hafeez, Afridi, Jamshed, Malik and select Sharjeel Khan, Hammad Azam, Sami Aslam, M. Talha, Sadaf Hussain. The younsters add a new vigour and aggression to the team as showed by Bhatti and Shahzad.
that's the problem with the pakistan team. they are happy and overjoyed to have won 1 or 2 matches and suddenly the total domination by South Africa over the last month. There are no positives here. Only negatives. These players know that you win one or two matches, then the pay continues and people calm down. These guys need to hit the nets and the gym hard. Most of the players get buy with natural talent rather than being in top cardiovascular shape or muscle strengthening.