Misbah-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 57
Bouncing back courageously after suffering a massive loss in the series-opener, Pakistan annihilated South Africa by six wickets in the rain-shortened second one-day international to level the five-match series 1-1.
In the game that was reduced to 44 overs per side due to rain, Pakistan bundled out the hosts for 191 and rode over skipper Misbah-ul-Haq’s unbeaten 57 to overhaul the target with 28 balls to spare.
Left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan was the chief-in-destroyer of Proteas batting line by producing the career-best figures of 4-33. Fellow quick Junaid Khan and spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez claimed two wickets apiece.
Slumping to 3-69 after losing Nasir Jamshed (10) early and Mohammad Hafeez (31) and Kamran Akmal (18) in quick succession in chase Pakistan were in deep trouble when Misbah came rebuild the innings alongside Younis Khan (32).
Batting sagaciously, the pair continued the anticipation towards target and drove up the total to 4-115 in 26 overs before Younis fell to Robin Peterson.
Dauntless Misbah found another able ally in Shoaib Malik (35 not out) and shared an unbeaten 77-run stand with him to coast Pakistan’s ship.
Earlier elected to bat South Africa, failed to build momentum early from the innings and lost wickets at regular intervals.
Irfan’s back-to-back early blows broke the back of South African top-order as they slumped to 62-5 inside 11 overs.
However, the 67-run seventh-wicket partnership between Farhaan Behardien (58) and Peterson (44), enabled the hosts to manage a respectable total. Barring them, non of other Proteas batsman was able to reach 20-mark.
The third ODI between the two sides is scheduled in Johannesburg on Sunday.
