Opener Fakhar Zaman played a once-in-a-lifetime knock but Pakistan failed to win the second One Day International against South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Sunday.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to ball first. But they ended up leaking runs as the Proteas posted 341/6. Skipper Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock scored de Kock 80 and 92 runs. Pakistan’s chase got off to a poor start, losing four wickets inside 15th over for 85. Then Zaman (192 off 154) kept their hopes alive with some sensational hitting. He finally got out, run out, after hitting 18 fours and 10 sixes. After Fakhar Zaman the second highest scorer in the team was Babar Azam (31). The next highest contribution to the Pakistan total was the 25 extras conceded. South Africa won the match by 17 runs to level the series 1-1.
For the record, Zaman’s knock was the highest individual score batting second in ODIs. The previous best was Aussie Shane Watson’s 185 not out against Bangladesh in 2011. Zaman also recorded the second-highest individual score in a losing cause. The record still belongs to Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry, who made 194 against Bangladesh. Zaman also surpassed David Warner (173 at Cape Town in 2016) to post the highest individual score against South Africa in South Africa.
The third and final match will be played on Wednesday at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
