South Africa vs Pakistan: WATCH – Quinton de Kock’s trickery fools Fakhar Zaman as he falls seven runs short of a second double-century

South Africa vs Pakistan: WATCH – Quinton de Kock’s trickery fools Fakhar Zaman as he falls seven runs short of a second double-century

Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman came very close to his second career double-century in ODIs before a run-out brought an end to an innings of the highest quality. In a stiff chase of 342, the rest of the Pakistani batters couldn’t offer much support to him, but the opener kept the scoreboard ticking with calculate risks to ensure that the target was always within reach. However, he ran out of reliable partners towards the end before he himself got run-out.

Pakistan had defeated South Africa in Centurion in the first ODI in a close encounter that went to the last ball. This time around, the match wasn’t as close, but the quality of cricket was sublime. At the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg often known for producing run-fests, the ‘Bullring’ did not disappoint as the runs kept flowing from the batsmen’s willow, both from South Africa and Pakistan.

Fakhar Zaman falls agonizingly short

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4IPW6keOoo

Earlier, South Africa were put in to bat first and they rode on four half-centuries. It was Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma who got fifties in the beginning while Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller delivered at the death to take South Africa to an excellent score of 341. The pick of the bowlers for Pakistan was Haris Rauf. In what was a stiff chase, none of the Pakistani batters could deliver with the exception of Fakhar Zaman.

Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman

The opener did not receive support from his fellow batsmen as they kept letting him down. However, he kept going and ensured that Pakistan were never out of the game. Even in the last two overs, 38 runs were required and Zaman hit a boundary to keep Pakistani hopes alive. However, a run-out brought an end to his stay at the crease in the last over as he fell 7 short of a double hundred. Pakistan fell short of the target by 17 runs.

The run-out was however, controversial as wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock pointed to the bowler’s end which distracted the batsman before a direct-hit found a confused Fakhar Zaman short.

The series is now level at 1-1 with one more match to go.

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