Fakhar Zaman’s 193 went uneffective
PBC News: Pakistan opening batsman Fakhar Zaman’s astonishing innings of 193 could not prevent South Africa winning the second one-day international by 17 runs in Johannesburg on Sunday.
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Pakistan seemed to have no chance when they slumped to 205 for seven in the 38th over in reply to South Africa’s 341 for six at the Wanderers Stadium. But Fakhar’s assault took them to 324 for nine.
With only his team’s bowlers to keep him company, the left-handed Fakhar, who was on 97 when Faheem Ashraf was the seventh man out, went on all-out attack.
In all, he hit 18 fours and ten sixes in a 155-ball innings before being run out in the last over by a direct hit from long-off as he was trying for a second run.
With wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock seemingly gesturing for Aiden Markram to throw to the bowler’s end, Fakhar slowed down and was surprised when the ball hit the stumps at the batsman’s end when he was a metre or more short, ending his bold counter-attack.
“It was one of the best innings I have seen in my life,” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
“It was an incredible innings, probably the best I have come across,” said South African captain Temba Bavuma. “Everything he tried came off.”
Fakhar, who made a ODI double century against Zimbabwe in 2018, was named man of the match.
“I tried my level best,” he said. “That’s my game.”
“The wicket was really good, the boundaries were very short and the run rate was going up. I was just hitting the ball.”
