The World Test Champions South Africa, beat Pakistan by 8 wickets to ensure a resounding victory at Rawalpindi. The Proteas displayed an enormous amount of tenacity and belief to subdue Pakistan and draw the series 1-1.
36-year-old Simon Harmer from Transvaal and Keshav Maharaj snared 17 Pakistani wickets in between them to snatch an important away win for the South Africans, who once again proved their mettle and found a way to win on foreign soil in completely adverse conditions.
The pitch in Pindi was nothing short of a spin bowler’s paradise. With the ball gripping, turning and bouncing, batting was tested to the limits. Pakistan got the best part of the pitch to bat on Day 1, but threw it away and were bundled out for 333 after a very fine start. They were ambling perfectly at 146/1, but lost their way once Abdullah Shafique left. Keshav Maharaj bowled brilliantly for a 7-wicket haul.
South Africa came out to bat on an already crumbling wicket and were precariously poised at 235/8, but then the Champions just turned the match on its head with exceptional innings from Senuran Muthusamy (89*) and Kagiso Rabada (71), with Keshav Maharaj too chipping in with a crucial 30. The tables were turned for good as the Proteas reached 404 with a big lead of 71 runs. The application, grit and determination to stay put on the pitch was exemplary from the South Africans.
In the end, a crumbling surface was too much of an ask for an average Pakistan batting strength, and once Babar Azam was dismissed in the first over of the morning today, it was curtains for the hosts as Simon Harmer hastened a collapse as Pakistan succumbed for just 138.
The Proteas then scored quickly and reached the target with 8 wickets in hand for a famous victory against all odds.
Keshav Maharaj was declared the Player of the Match, and Senuran Muthusamy, for his terrific bowling and batting performance, was adjudged the Player of the Series.
South Africa are steadily turning into a force in all formats of Cricket and will be pushing to challenge India, Australia and England for Cricket supremacy.
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