ABU DHABI: South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen denied Pakistan victory with an undefeated century in a last-ball finish to their warm-up fixture in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night.
Pakistan — winners against reigning champions West Indies in Monday’s first warm-up tie — were left stunned by van der Dussen’s explosive 51-ball of 101 as South Africa reached 190-4 under lights at the Tolerance Oval.
Frontline pacers Hasan Ali (0-52 in four overs) and Haris Rauf (0-33 in three) were taken to the cleaners by the right-handed van der Dussen, who adorned his spectacular innings with 10 boundaries and four sixes.
South Africa stuttered early on with both openers, Quinton de Kock (6) and Reeza Hendricks (7), perishing to the slow left-armers of Imad Wasim with just 15 runs on the board. But van der Dussen and skipper Temba Bavuma (46 off 42 balls, two sixes and two fours) came together to put on a splendid partnership of 107.
Apart from Imad, Pakistan spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi had a decent outing as the big speedsters grabbed 2-30 from his four overs.
Earlier, Fakhar Zaman followed up his 46 against the West Indies by top-scoring with a feisty 28-ball 52 (five sixes and two fours) before retiring as Pakistan posted 186-6.
The embattled Asif Ali banged a quickfire 32 with his 18-ball effort containing a brace of sixes and as many fours, while Shoaib Malik hit up a 20-ball 28 (one six, one four).
Scores in brief:
PAKISTAN 186-6 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 52 retired out, Asif Ali 32, Shoaib Malik 28, Mohammad Rizwan 19, Babar Azam 15, Mohammad Hafeez 13; K. Rabada 3-28); SOUTH AFRICA 190-4 in 20 overs (H.E. van der Dussen 101 not out, T. Bavuma 46, H, Klaasen 14; Imad Wasim 2-19, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-30).
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021
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