South Africa’s wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock grabbed the headlines when he cunningly set up Fakhar Zaman for a runout during the 2nd ODI at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Meanwhile, the Proteas survived a tornado from Fakhar to win the match by 17 runs after setting up a target of 341 runs batting first.
Pakistan found themselves in all sorts of trouble early in their run chase. In the 11th over, Anrich Nortje got the wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan which almost broke their backbone. But Fakhar Zaman was not ready to drop the guns and fought a lone battle to carry his side on his shoulders. Despite losing wickets at the other end, the southpaw went all guns blazing against the South African bowlers.
He was reeling at 97 runs when Pakistan lost their seventh wicket in the 35th over. But Fakhar Zaman planned his innings to perfect to keep his side in contention. Fakhar went back with 193 runs off 155 balls under his belt and his knock was laced with 18 fours and 10 sixes. He was present in the middle until the last over of the run-chase when his team needed 31 runs.
Quinton de Kock fools Fakhar Zaman to get him run out
It was his tenacity to keep the strike that got him out. It was a slower ball and Fakhar Zaman pumped it hard to long-off and wanted the second run. There was a slight stutter and the direct hit at the keeper’s end caught Zaman well short of his crease. He didn’t expect such a good throw at his end.
Incidentally, Quinton de Kock fooled him there, he pointed as though the throw was going to the bowler’s end which made Zaman stutter and look back, but Aiden Markram had gone to the striker’s end and Quinton de Kock just let it hit the stumps, catching Zaman unaware.
Watch the video here:
De Kock 😹😹 Pro Version Of Sanga.
Well Played Fakhar Zaman. pic.twitter.com/CwPOIpalRI
— Ravi Mishra (@G33kBoyRavi) April 4, 2021
Earlier in the day, it was Quinton De Kock and Temba Bavuma who set up the foundation with a measured partnership. The duo got going after Markram had wasted yet another start. Both De Kock and Bavuma missed out on their tons but had given the license to Rassie Van der Dussen and David Miller to go bonkers at the end to set up a target of 341 runs which was enough to level the series at 1-1.