ESPNcricinfo Awards 2021 ODI batting winner Fakhar Zaman, this innings was a one-man campaign against South African bowlers chasing a target of 342 runs.
The Teammates Left It For a Long Time :-
Fakhar Zaman’s teammates had long abandoned it – only another Pakistani had crossed 20 – but he saved his life in the last third of the innings.
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His innings had a slow start; He scored only 44 runs in his first 69. But as soon as he saw other batsmen come and go and the sun started setting, it seemed it was up to him.
As the floodlights took hold, Fakhar launched a ruthless attack. Tabrez Shamsi took a special penalty, hitting five sixes in six balls at a time. Till the innings ended with a controversial run-out.
By then Fakhar had scored 18 fours and ten sixes after scoring 193 runs for 155. South Africa just breathed easy after being run out in the last over and Pakistan fell short by 17 runs.
The Pantomime Villain of de Kock Match :-
For Pakistan fans, de Kock was the pantomime villain of the match. In the last over, Fakhar pushed to complete the second run to keep the strike, de Kock pointed towards the bowler’s end.
Believing that the throw was going there, Fakhar slowed down, only to fall below the crease when Aiden Markram’s direct superseding got stumped at the keeper’s end.
0 Number of High Individual Scores Chasing Objectives in ODI History
59.56 Fakhar’s percentage contribution to the team’s total, the highest in ODI innings completed for Pakistan.
“Amazing innings. It came very close to winning that game. I’d say it’s one of the best innings I’ve seen live because there was no partnership with the top order. He did it alone.”
The Former Pakistan Coach Younis Khan :-
103 vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Centurion
Excellent knock from a man seen batting on a different pitch. Babar’s run-a-ball century made him the fastest man to score 13 ODI centuries and set Pakistan on a last-ball victory.
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102 vs South Africa, 2nd ODI, Dublin
In the absence of William Porterfield, Andy Balbirnie propelled himself up the order and slipped smoothly into the background against a full-power attack from South Africa, setting the ground for Ireland’s first win against South Africa in his seventh ODI. century scored.
