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FAISALABAD: Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 123* off 119 balls helped South Africa outplay Pakistan in the second ODI to level the three-match series here on Thursday.
South Africa chased down the 270-run target with ease, losing just two wickets in the process, with 59 balls to spare.
The series decider will be played on Saturday, November 8, at the same venue.
Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided the Proteas a brisk start, adding 81 in just 11.5 overs. Pretorius remained the core aggressor, scoring 46 off 40 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.
However, the monumental 153-run partnership for the second wicket between De Kock and Tony de Zorzi kept Pakistan bowlers at bay.
Both batters notched up half-centuries at a quick-scoring rate. De Zorzi fell after a brisk 76 from 63 balls studded with nine fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, De Kock continued till the end and scored his 22nd ODI century.
The southpaw returned to his best with an innings that included seven maximums and eight fours.
For Pakistan, there was nothing much in the wickets columns with Mohammad Wasim and Faheem managing to scalp one wicket apiece.
Earlier, opting to bat first here at the Iqbal Stadium, Pakistan managed to post 269-9 on the board in their 50 overs despite a miserable start.
South Africa’s Nandre Burger inflicted a horror start with Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan sent back inside the first five overs.
Zaman was caught behind for nought on the third ball of the opening over, followed by Babar in the fourth. The right-hander made 11 from 13 balls while Rizwan could not extend his stay at the crease and was removed on the fifth ball of the same over for four.
As a result, Green Shirts were in tatters with 22-3 in 4.5 overs.
However, Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub paired up and stitched a 92-run partnership from 119 balls, which steadied Pakistan’s innings. Saim remained the core aggressor while Salman played second-fiddle.
The pivotal partnership was ultimately broken by Corbin Bosch in the 25th over when he caught and bowled Saim.
The opening batter made a significant contribution to Pakistan’s score, tallying 53 runs off 66 balls, which included five fours and a six.
Pakistan faced another setback when Hussain Talat was dismissed for 10 runs by Nqabayomzi Peter in the 30th over.
Agha played a key role in forming a crucial 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket with fellow all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.
He was eventually dismissed by Bosch in the 41st over, finishing as Pakistan’s top scorer with a resilient 69 runs from 105 balls, which featured five fours.
Following Agha’s exit, Nawaz took control of the innings, making 59 runs off 59 balls, and hitting four sixes and three fours before being dismissed by Nqabayomzi Peter on the second-to-last delivery of the final over.
He received notable assistance from Faheem Ashraf, who delivered a quick-fire 28 runs off just 18 balls, including two sixes and two fours.
For South Africa, Nandre Burger shone as the standout bowler, taking four wickets in his quota of 10 overs.
