Leaving it late: Morkel struck the last blow for South Africa at the death
Just hours after Virat Kohli led India to a dramatic win over Australia in Nagpur, Morne Morkel’s last-ditch heroics helped South Africa continue the day’s thrilling sequence with a one-run victory over Pakistan in Sharjah.
Morkel’s final strike, bowling the giant Mohammad Irfan with Pakistan needing just two to win, delivered a decisive blow to Pakistan that completed a bizarre sequence of six wickets for 17. Until then Pakistan’s steady progress had seen them look assured and certain for victory, but as ever with Pakistan, nothing is impossible and this culminated with a dramatic implosion that owed more to their own suicidal batting than South Africa’s bowling.
From 135 for 4, chasing South Africa’s 183, victory should have been a formality for Pakistan but as is their way, victory never comes easy and Morkel started and finished the rout in taking two for 23. Wayne Parnell was the star of the day for the visitors, striking a vital 56 before taking three for 41 in the reply.
Parnell’s innings changed the momentum for South Africa, coming in at 86 for 6 and helping add almost 100 for the remaining wickets, mostly alongside David Miller, who proved he is more than just a hitter with his responsible 37. Parnell’s controlled aggression led South Africa away from a calamity into ‘mere’ poor total, better than nothing and ultimately good enough.
It was South Africa’s weakness against spin that let them down again. Only AB de Villiers of this starting eleven seems capable of playing, and dominating, spin bowlers and once he was dismissed for just four by Saeed Ajmal it was never likely that the Proteas were going to post a substantial total. As it transpired, Ajmal and Shahid Afridi between them took seven for 67 and left their side with what should have been a fruitful run chase.
Despite the poor start to their chase, losing Nasir Jamshed for a duck, Ahmed Shahzad and the returning Mohammad Hafeez added 71 before Hafeez fell to Parnell. South Africa’s first four wickets came steadily rather than dramatically as the home side accumulated their runs slowly, and Shahzad moved on to his fourth ODI fifty in 80 balls. Parnell then struck again, removing him for 58, and the same man struck to remove captain Misbah-ul-Haq for 31.
From then it was the Imran Tahir show. The Pakistan-born leg-spinner ripped through the lower order for his three wickets, and bowled a dramatic final over of his spell with Pakistan needing three to win. First, he reviewed a stumping appeal than was denied, before striking Irfan on the pads and roaring his appeal. The umpire said no, despite later evidence that it perhaps should have been given.
That seemed like the last chance for Pakistan, but with Morkel lining up the next over, Ajmal clipped to midwicket and opted to take the single. Two balls later, he was watching on aghast and helpless as Irfan played inside the line of an inswinger and lost his stumps.
Morkel had struck, and another superb day of ODI cricket had it’s final, thrilling twist.
Related to this article;
Kohli Proves He Is Great In The Making
India Square Series In Thrilling Run Chase
South Africa Take Command Thanks To Record Partnership
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