Series win in South Africa - Pakistan wins hearts all over again
Ahmed Shehzad with the Man of the Match award after the series win
Last night’s second one day international between Pakistan and South Africa was an unbelievable game of cricket.
It was a game that reminded the Pakistani fans of their wins in the 90s when Wasim and Waqar would bring the team back from nowhere.
It was a game that reminded the Pakistani fans to believe again.
It was a game that made the Pakistani fans fall in love with their cricketers again.
To beat South Africa in South Africa in any form of the game is an achievement. To beat them in a series is a bigger achievement. And then to think that you have become the first ever team from the subcontinent to win a series in South Africa, is just overwhelming!
That is an achievement and a half for this Pakistan team, which not very long ago was being thrashed by South Africa in ODIs and T20s.
It has been an amazing comeback for the Boys in Green!
Everything worked yesterday for Pakistan.
A century partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood at a run rate of almost 6 per over provided them with a platform to fire from. Umar Akmal and Bilawal Bhatti, who very soon will move above Afridi in the batting order, finished the innings perfectly.
262 in 45 overs was a daunting target. It was going to be difficult for South Africa, especially considering that they were up against an in form bowling unit.
Junaid Khan gave Pakistan the perfect start, removing Smith early and keep the run rate in check. Even though Amla and De Kock kept it together for South Africa, their scoring rate of 4-4.5 an over never threatened Pakistan.
When Afridi came on to bowl, Amla and De Kock were well settled but the required run rate was steadily creeping towards 7 an over. Afridi, who has been superb with the ball against South Africa, applied more pressure and accounted for De Kock and Kallis in quick succession.
119-3 in 26. 144 required in 19 overs at 7.58. Game Over?
It looked like it, but AB De Villiers had different things in mind.
ABD went about his job and made the chase look like a cake walk.
The only time South Africa looked like they were in the hunt was when ABD was out there in the middle.
He smashed the bowling around, toyed with Pakistan’s premier spinner, hit out against Pakistan’s most economical bowler, and looked to take the game away from the Greens.
During the course of his innings, ABD brought down the run rate from over 7.5 to below 5.5.
It was a crushing match winning knock by the South African captain. But only just.
When ABD fell to a good catch by Afridi on the boundary, South Africa were left with only 36 runs to get from 38 deliveries with 6 wickets in hand. Amla was batting on 86 and JP Duminy was walking out to the crease.
It should have been like a walk in the park for South Africa. And it seemed it would be as Amla and Duminy went about their business with ease.
The match seemed lost for Pakistan.
35 from 36, 31 from 30, 26 from 24, 20 from 18, 11 from 12.
Just when it looked like it was game over for Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal delivered a counter punch like no other in the penultimate over of the match.
Amla and Duminy managed only two singles off the first 3 deliveries, and then Ajmal bowled two dot balls.
9 needed from 7. Pressure on South Africa. Ajmal had bowled beautifully.
Off Ajmal’s final delivery, Amla went for the big one towards mid wicket. The ball was in the air and two Pakistani fielders were charging towards it. Misbah looked anxiously as Hafeez positioned himself to take the catch, which he held on to. It was a difficult one, but Hafeez remained calm and sent Amla back for a well made 98.
9 needed from the final over of the match.
Junaid Khan had the ball. David Miller was on strike. Duminy at the other end.
Now, it was anybody’s game.
Miller managed a single of the first delivery and then Duminy heaved the second ball towards mid wicket in the hope of getting a big one early in the over.
Umar Amin ran towards the ball and dived to take a catch inches from the ground. It was a superb effort to catch that in a pressure situation. I know the scorecard says Anwar Ali, even the commentators said Anwar Ali, but it was Umar Amin who caught that ball to send Duminy back.
8 from 4. Pakistan were truly and surely back in it.
Junaid Khan bowled a beautiful final over. His yorkers were spot on and he gave the batsmen no space at all. Reminded me of Wasim bhai. The Pakistani fielders were prowling the boundaries and the square like tigers. The catching was immaculate.
The last two overs was what Osman Samiuddin has termed “The Haal of Pakistan“. According to Osman, the Haal of Pakistan is described in the following words:
“In other words, submission. Because, finally, what Pakistan are doing in these moments is asking you to submit. They are asking you, opponent and spectator, to submit to their reality, their chaos, their unplanning, their spur of the moment, their pox, their talent, their wretchedness, their beauty, their spirit.”
It was truly unbelievable. Pakistan pulled of an amazing win. One that should have been easier had it not been for some superlative batting by AB De Villiers.
A 1 run margin does justice to the sort of cricket that was played last night. But it doesn’t do justice to the magical final over bowled by Junaid Khan. The final delivery went for 4 byes, which is why the end result was a 1 run victory.
In either case, it was a magical victory for Pakistan who became the first ever team from the subcontinent to win a series in South Africa.
Reliving the events from last night, and it still feels like pure magic.
Maza aa gaya Pakistaaaan!