Are
we witnessing one of most the thrilling One-day series of this year? Is the
One-day cricket really dying? Well, if you are following this Pakistan
v South Africa
five-match One-day series then you will be sure that this has been one of the most
exciting One-day series of this year and of course, One-day cricket’s future is
not bleak at all.
Again,
Pakistan and South
Africa have gifted us another heart-racing
contest and without a doubt, Pakistan ’s
never-say-die attitude deserves enough praise. It seemed that Pakistan
have rekindled the days of Imran Khan where Pakistan
used to conquer adversities with astonishing finishes.
Graeme
Smith’s return to the side as captain boosted the team’s morale and he was back
into his groove with a productive innings of 92 and his third-wicket stand of
94 runs with AB de Villiers, who notched up a boundary-less 49, made Pakistan
toil. Later on late-order-surges from Collin Ingram and Johan Botha swelled South
Africa ’s total as they gave Pakistan
to chase down 275 runs.
For Pakistan
such totals have always been tough as in the recent past, they have always
choked while cashing totals in limited-overs cricket. Imran Farhat departed
earlier and Younis Khan forged a 58-run partnership with Mohammad Hafeez and
56-run stand with Asad Shafiq. Younis Khan provided the kind of resolve which Pakistan
needed. Younis relied more on depth touches and sending the ball into the gaps
for singles and twos as maneuvering the strike had been the feature of his
73-run innings which included just one boundary.
The
sun had set in Dubai and as the
evening progressed to night in Dubai ,
cricket became even more enthralling. The departure of Fawad Alam and Shahid
Afridi, who scored a blazing 29 runs off 25 balls, shifted the balance of the
match towards South Africa .
Younis Khan scripted a 49-run stand for the sixth wicket with Abdul Razzaq and
the batting Power-play was still up their sleeve. It was the perfect
combination to complete the chase – the composure and calmness of Younis
alongside the brute force of Razzaq - but Morkel removed Younis via an inside
edge and two balls later Abdur Rehman was run out in a hopeless mix-up. Pakistan
were in a rut.
At 220
for 7 in the 42.3 overs, South Africa
seemed to have already bagged the match, but Razzaq at the other end continued
his stroke play till he was caught behind off the bowling of Morkel leaving Pakistan
at bay on 244 for 8.
A hero was needed for Pakistan
and that came in the shape of Wahab Riaz. He, along with Zulqarnain Haider at
the other end, played some swashbuckling shots to raise the hopes among the
Pakistani fans present in the stadium. The game which was in South
Africa ’s grasps seemed to have been slipping
away now. Pakistan
must thank the lady luck too, but fortune favours the brave.
South Africa missed a run-out chance of Wahab Riaz as a wild
throw from the deep by Botha was messed up as Riaz ran for the third, Graeme
Smith spilled a tough chance of Riaz, and another run-out chance was missed in
the penultimate over when Morkel hurled the ball past the stumps from his
follow through and two over throws ensued.
Amidst of so many dramatic situations Pakistan
were left to score just 4 runs in the last over. But another final twist had
happened as Riaz was finally run out for 18. Zulqarnain at the other end leveled
the score by chipping the ball over the midwicket as Parnell, again, missed
another chance of a run out. Then the next ball was nudged to square-leg to
seal another nerve-wrecking victory.
What a match! Can you think about cricket without Pakistan ?
I think, the critics must rethink about their opinion of banning Pakistan
from cricket.
Thank
You
Faisal
Caesar
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