South Africa-Pakistan ODI Series
2nd Match Played at Johannesburg on 4th March 2021

South Africa 341/6 In 50 Overs (Temba Bahuma 92, Quinton de Cock 80, Rassie van der Dussen 60, David Miller 50*, Harris Rauf 3/54) 
Pakistan 324/9 in 50 Overs (Fakhar Zaman 193, Babar Azam 31, Asif Ali 19, Anrich Nortje 3/ 63, Andile Phehlukwayo 2/67) 
Player Of The Match: Fakhar Zaman 

Asked to bat after losing the toss South Africa set up a run mountain of 341/6 on the batting friendly even paced Johannesburg Wicket. Brave batting by lonely warrior Fakhar Zaman (193) failed scaling that run mountain. None of his mates excepting Babar Azam (31) could stay with him. Pakistan could go as far as 324/9 losing the match by 17 runs. Winning the match South Africa squared the series 1-1. Pakistan won the evenly contested first match on the last ball. Back by back two matches witnessed mouth-watering, nail biting contest. Usually, winning performance is awarded player of the match. But the innings of Fakhar Zaman for the losing cause won it. None would dispute with the decision. It was great display of explosive batting. 

The evenly matched two teams are using the series for working out winning combination for the ICC World Cup scheduled to be held in 2023 in India. South Africa under its new captain Tenda Behuma after losing the first match only just on the last ball of the first match strongly bounced back on the day. The positive mindset of the team witnessed very enterprising batting all the way. Aiden Markram (39) and Quinton de Cock (80) starting aggressively put up 55 in the 1st wicket in 9.3 overs.  Wicket keeper dropped a difficult catch of Markram off the bowling of Shahin Shah Aridi. After Markram left getting out by Fahim Ashraf, Q de Cock and captain Temba Bahuma (92) played the match defining partnership of 114 for the 2nd wicket before Haris Rauf bowling at pace cleaned up Q de Cock for 80. Behuma struck another 101 3rd wicket partnership with Rassie van der Dussen (60). Hasnain accounted for Rassie. The momentum created by the above partnerships led South Africa ending at very impressive 341/6 as David Miller batting at 5 also scored unbeaten 50 in 27 deliveries. It is not that Pakistan bowled all that bat on the evenly paced wicket. Harris Rauf taking 3/54 was the peak of the pack.

Starting the mountain climb Pakistan endeavor got a body blow as inform Imam ul Haq fell to Ngidi in the second over after scoring 5. Fakhar Zaman on the other end appeared hungry on the day. Captain cool Babar Azam and Fakhar put up a brief 63 runs 2nd wicket partnership when Nortje struck the match winning delivery removing Babar. The only chance of Pakistan getting across South African Run Mountain was this pair growing bigger. From there on it was lonely mission of Fakhar Zaman looking like Alexandar, the great on a mission. He kept on whipping and spanking protean attack. But he got hardly any assistance from the other end. His 155 balls 193 comprising 18 fours and 10 sixes ended in the 49.1 over with Pakistan looking very close to the top of the run peak. Who knows whether his stay till the last ball could see a dramatic last ball photo finish or not. Pakistan lost by 17 wickets. The series stands tied 1-1.

The innings of Fakhar Zaman though finishing in the losing cause was so imposing that he was awarded the player of the match.

BDST: 1353 HRS, APR 05, 2021
SMS