Fakhar Zaman leads Pakistan to ODI series win against South Africa
Starter Fakhar Zaman broke his second century in as many games as Pakistan beat much-changed South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final one-day international in Pretoria on Wednesday to secure the series 2-1.
Fakhar continued his scintillating 193 on Sunday with 101 as Pakistan went 320 of seven in his 50 overs after being sent at-bat.
South Africa, which lost five key players en route to the Indian Premier League to Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi, was eliminated by 292 in the final. for a sizable total from Pakistan.
But he got a major late boost from captain Babar Azam (94 of 82 balls) and Hasan Ali (32 not out of 11), who broke 55 of the last 16 balls of innings to propel Pakistan past 300.
They appeared to have stalled as spinners Keshav Maharaj (3-45) and part-time Aiden Markram (2-48) halted the scoring before the powerful late round.
South Africa needed a three-figure score from one of their batsmen to get close to the goal, but the Pakistani bowlers varied the pace at a slow wicket and remained in control of the match.
Janneman Malan (70 of 81 balls), Kyle Verreynne (62 of 53), and Andile Phehlukwayo (54 of 61) logged half a century, but neither could move on as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (3-34) was the pick. of the visiting attack.
The teams now play a four-game Twenty20 international series that begins in Johannesburg on Saturday.
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