Proteas limp across finish line amid Fakhar Zaman’s fireworks to level series

South Africa held their nerve in a pressure game as they defeated Pakistan by 17 runs to level the series 1-1 despite a herculean effort of 193 from Fakhar Zaman, who stretched the match till the last over.

South Africa posted a daunting total of 341 for 6 after being put in to bat, thanks to half-centuries by Quinton de Kock (80), Temba Bevuma (92), Rassie van der Dussen (60), and David Miller (50 not out). Then early blows from Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi put the hosts in a commanding position, notwithstanding Zaman’s solitary retaliation.

South Africa got off to a steady start despite the new ball making the openers dance. Aiden Markram and de Kock put up an opening partnership of 55 runs, with Markram (39) finding a rhythm and doing the majority of the damage. He sent the ball into the stands as he played a lofted drive for a six in the 10th over but got caught the very next ball off Faheem Ashraf.

Bavuma then joined de Kock at the crease. Bavuma was choked with dot balls but didn’t give in to the Pakistan pace attack even when Babar Azam kept the fielders up in the 30-yard circle to maintain the pressure.

De Kock chopped one on to the stumps after a sublime inning of 80 off 86 balls studded with 10 fours and a six, becoming Haris Rauf’s first victim – breaking the second-wicket partnership of 114 runs between the two that laid down a strong foundation for the Proteas to aim for a 300-plus total.

Bavuma rose to the occasion with a well-paced innings of 92 in 100 balls after finding himself stumbling in the beginning with just seven runs in his first 21 balls.

Van der Dussen followed his centurion performance with another half-century in this match. Dussen started his innings directly in the fifth gear – 60 in 37 balls laced with six fours and four sixes. Bavuma and van der Dusssen added 101 runs for the third-wicket before the latter was dismissed by Mohammad Hasnain (1 for 74).

Subsequently, Bavuma was sent back to the dressing room in the nineties by Haris Rauf (3 for 54) after getting caught at mid-wicket by Babar.

A vintage Miller then came in blazing with a fiery knock of 50 not out in just 27 balls to finish the South African innings on 341 for 6, taking 19 runs off Shaheen Afridi in the final over.

Pakistan commenced their chase stuttering with Imam-ul-Haq (5) back in the pavilion to Lungi Ngidi (1 for 66) in the second over. Babar joined forces with Zaman to set a foundation for the chase. The two added 63 runs for the second wicket but Anrich Nortje (3 for 63) snared the wickets of Babar (31), Mohammad Rizwan (0), and Danish Aziz (9), reducing the visitors to 85/4.

Being forced into rebuilding, Zaman found himself alone, losing partners consistently at the other end. The lower middle-order consisting of Shadab Khan (13), Asif Ali (19), and Faheem Ashraf (11) couldn’t hold the fort from their side for long, increasing the pressure on Zaman to stand vehemently at the crease.

Zaman fuelled the fires of hope in the Pakistan camp to almost bring the visitors home, but his blistering knock of 193 off 155 deliveries came to an anti-climactic end when he was run-out in the final over.

South Africa eventually won by 17 runs, squaring the series 1-1.

Zaman was awarded the Player of the Match for his spectacular knock that was studded with 18 fours and 10 sixes and is now the highest individual score at the Wanderers.

The final match of the series will be played on Wednesday 7 April.