At the end of the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test, South Africa lost 1 wicket for 127 runs and were trailed by 243 runs to start the fifth day’s play. At the end of the fourth day, the chances of both sides winning were equal. But the helpless surrender to the Pakistani fast bowlers on the last day could not save the Proteas from the shame of the series defeat.
Rassie van der Dussen (48), who was on the wicket in the previous day, returned to the dressing room after being bowled by Hasan Ali in the first ball of the session. Faf du Plessis came to the crease & Hasan Ali sent him back to the pavilion by trapping him for 5 runs in lbw. After losing one wicket for 127 runs, they started the day & went to the drinks break with 159 runs for three wickets.
Bavuma and Markram came to the wicket from the break. South Africa did not lose any wickets in the next 25 overs. Aiden Markram picked up the 5th century of his career with 221 balls 2 overs before going to the lunch break. Returning from the break, Temba Bavuma hit a four off Yasir Shah and picked up his half century. But as soon as the Pakistanis’ took the new ball, the turn of the match took place. In the second over of the new ball bowled by Hasan, Markram got out in Imran’s hand at slip. Quinton de Kock was also dismissed on the next ball after the opener departed scoring 108 runs off 243 balls. Hasan Ali also made the Proteas captain get caught in the slip. After five overs, another fast bowler Shaheen Afridi returned to Bavuma. Bavuma, who scored 61, got caught behind by the wicket-keeper. After losing six wickets, the visitors went to the drinks break with 253 runs.
Coming back then, South Africa lost all of their wickets in just five overs. South Africa lost all their wickets for 274 runs in the fiery bowling spells of two fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi. The Proteas lost seven wickets for the last 33 runs. Pakistan won the Test by 95 runs and won the two-match series 2-0. This is Pakistan’s first series win against South Africa since 2003.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan – Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abid Ali, Babar Azam (c), Faheem Ashraf, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali.
South Africa – Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada.
Scoreboard:
Pakistan (1st Innings) – 272/10 (114.3)
Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Imran, 11.1 over), 2-21 (Azhar, 13.4 over), 3-22 (Abid, 14.5 over), 4-145 (Babar, 58.2 over), 5-149 (Alam, 63.4 over), 6-190 (Rizwan, 82.3 over), 7-221 (Hasan, 93.2 over), 8-251 (Yasir, 102.4 over), 9-272 (Nauman, 114.1 over), 10-272 (Shaheen, 114.3 over)
South Africa (1st Innings) – 201/10 (65.4)
Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Elgar, 5.5 over), 2-26 (Dussen, 5.6 over), 3-55 (Plessis, 14.3 over), 4-81 (Markram, 23.6 over), 5-114 (Kock, 30.3 over), 6-164 (Mulder, 53.1 over), 7-186 (Linde, 57.5 over), 8-192 (Maharaj, 61.6 over), 9-201 (Rabada, 65.3 over), 10-201 (Nortje, 65.4 over)
Pakistan (2nd Innings) – 298/10 (102)
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Imran, 4.1 over), 2-28 (Abid, 16.2 over), 3-45 (Babar, 22.4 over), 4-63 (Azhar, 31.2 over), 5-76 (Fawad, 35.1 over), 6-128 (Faheem, 49.3 over),7-143 (Hasan, 56.1 over), 8-196 (Yasir, 73.5 over), 9-293 (Nauman, 98.5 over), 10-298 (Shaheen, 101.6 over)
South Africa (2nd Innings) – 274/10 (91.4)
Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Elgar, 8.2 over), 2-127 (Dussen, 41.3 over), 3-134 (Plessis, 45.5 over), 4-241 (Markram, 81.1 over), 5-241 (Kock, 81.2 over), 6-253 (Bavuma, 86.5 over), 7-258 (Linde, 87.6 over), 8-268 (Maharaj, 90.1 over), 9-268 (Rabada, 90.3 over), 10-274 (Mulder, 91.4 over)
Result – Pakistan won by 95 runs
Player of the Match – Hasan Ali
Player of the Series – Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan have won the Test series & now moving towards the T20Is. Predict the winners of them & play on Baji!