Pakistan edge past South Africa to level series by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Dubai Sports City Stadium, Dubai
Scorecard:	Pakistan v South Africa
Player:	Younis Khan, GC Smith
Event:	South Africa in United Arab Emirates 2010/11

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DateLine: 6th November 2010

 

Pakistan levelled the ODI series after a thrilling one-wicket win.

 

Graeme Smith's 92 helped South Africa post 274-6. In reply, Younis Khan struck a patient 73 from 115 balls to lead Pakistan to a thrilling one-wicket win. Zulqarnain Haider hit 19 not out as his side won off the penultimate ball.

 

When wicketkeeper Haider was joined by tail-ender Wahab Riaz, 31 were still needed from the final 23 deliveries, with eight wickets down. With 27 needed from the final 18 balls, paceman Dale Steyn drifted down the leg side and was clipped for four by Haider, with Riaz playing a similar shot for four more two balls later. Four were needed from the final over, which was bowled by left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell. Only a single had come from the first two deliveries and Riaz panicked, needlessly charging down the pitch in search of a single when Haider had played the ball straight back to the bowler, who duly broke the stumps before Riaz could regain his ground. But to the relief of a frenzied crowd, Haider chipped two runs over mid-wicket then pulled the next ball for the winning single to keep the series alive.

 

Earlier Smith missed his ninth one-day century by just eight runs on his return after injuring his hand during South Africa's eight wicket win in the first match in Abu Dhabi. Smith put on a 94-run stand with AB de Villiers to put South African on course for a big total before he was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Hafeez in the 31st over.

 

De Villiers then took charge alongwith Jean-Paul Duminy as South African added 84 in the last ten overs. De Villiers's 70-ball knock was without a boundary but he batted sensibly after Smith's departure.