Pakistan may have won the match, beating South Africa with three wickets, but one thing is for sure: we don’t believe in an easy win.
After such a painfully slow start, a crackling century by Babar Azam and all kinds of twists and turns, Pakistan’s win went right down to the very last ball.
There were many dull parts of the game but it was the Babar century and the four-for from Nortje that lit the game up after Van Der Dussen gave South Africa something to defend with his maiden international century.
There were clouds hovering in the chase for Pakistan but with a solid partnership between Babar and Imam ul Haq, it gave Pakistani side a better start despite Fakhar Zaman’s early fall of wicket. Sealing the deal for Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf hit a four to the covers and bagged the first win against Proteas in a three-match series.
Meanwhile, Azam’s century puts him in a league of his own as the cricketer becomes the fastest batsman in the world to score 13 ODI centuries. It took the Pakistan captain only 76 innings to score 13 tons in the 50-over format.
South Africa fought back through Nortje’s short balls and could have won it as well, had it not been for a no ball and free hit in the penultimate over. Always trust these two teams to make you bite your nails.
Ramiz Raja, on commentary, saw the funny side to the happenings and reckoned why his team was so much in demand – they were entertainers through and through.
Imam too saw the funny side. Speaking after the game, the cricketer said: “You know there’s this pandemic bringing everyone down these days and so we thought we’d entertain people a little.”
Here are some reactions from experts, fans and notable people after a breathtaking win by Pakistan:
