DUBAI: Woken-up Abdul Razzaq hit a belligerent unbeaten hundred to help Pakistan pull off an incerdible win in the second one-day international against South Africa here on Sunday.
The dashing 30-year-old all-rounder hit a quickfire 109 off just 72 balls studded with ten towering sixes and seven fours to help Pakistan overhaul a daunting 288-run target with just one wicket and one delivery to spare.
Razzaq’s third one-day hundred – crossing the fifty mark for the first time since making 75 not out against England four years ago – helped Pakistan level the five-match series 1-1 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium. South Africa won the first match by eight wickets here on Friday. The third match will be played in Dubai on Tuesday.
Razzaq, who came to the crease at 5-136, added 81 for the sixth wicket with Fawad Alam (48) to raise hopes of Pakistan win and even after Alam fell, he did not lose heart despite Pakistan needing 87 in the last ten overs. He hit Charl Langeveldt for three sixes in 47th over before taking a six and a boundary off the same bowler in the 49th.
Pakistan needed 14 off the last over as Razzaq cut loose, hitting sixes off the second and third balls from Albie Morkel to raise his third hundred in one-day cricket, which came off just 70 balls. He then cut through the point for boundary to bring Pakistan’s win.
South Africa had to leave out captain Graeme Smith and all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who were both unfit. Amla started the run feast with three boundaries in paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s first over of the match, before fellow opener Robin Peterson fell leg-before to Razzaq in the fourth over. Ingram then took charge and in company of Amla took the score to 108.
Pakistan broke through captain Shahid Afridi who trapped Amla leg-before. The bearded opener hit eight boundaries off 62 balls. Duminy’s knock contained three fours and a six before he fell in the last over.
