Phehlukwayo, Van der Dussen hold their nerve to take Proteas to victory

Andile Phehlukwayo watches an edge off the bowling of Shadab Khan go past Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed during his match-winning knock of 69 not out. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Andile Phehlukwayo watches an edge off the bowling of Shadab Khan go past Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed during his match-winning knock of 69 not out. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Published Jan 22, 2019

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DURBAN – Rassie van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo guided South Africa to a series-levelling win in a roller-coaster second one-day international against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

The pair came together when the Proteas were 80/5 in reply to Pakistan’s 203.

They put on an unbeaten 127 as the hosts won by five wickets with eight overs to spare.

Van der Dussen, 29, playing in his second one-day international, made an unbeaten 80 after scoring 93 on debut in South Africa’s five-wicket defeat in the first match in Port Elizabeth.

“What you look for in new players is composure and calmness at the crease. We’re looking for big-match players. He’s smashing that door down for a permanent position in our strongest XI,” said Proteas captain Faf du Plessis.

Phehlukwayo was named Man-of-the-Match after two career-best performances. He took 4/22 in Pakistan’s innings, and then scored 69 not out to share Du Plessis’s praise for what he said was an outstanding partnership.

The match went through several phases. An early finish seemed likely when Pakistan crashed to 112/8 after being sent in to bat.

But Hasan Ali, batting at No 10, hit a career-best 59 off 45 balls and helped captain Sarfraz Ahmed (41) put on 90 for the ninth wicket to enable Pakistan to reach 203.

Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took wickets in each of his first three overs to reduce South Africa to 29/3.

Van der Dussen and David Miller (31) put on 51 for the fourth wicket, but leg-spinner Shadab Khan struck with his second and third deliveries to swing the odds back towards Pakistan.

Phehlukwayo seemed unable to read Shadab’s deliveries, and a key moment came with his score on seven when he was given out lbw to Shadab.

He asked for a review, which showed the ball was spinning past his leg-stump.

He's living up to the all-rounder potential everyone has spoken of since he made his debut. Congratulations Man of the Match @andileluck19! Career-best 9.5-2-22-4 and career-best 69 not out. Extra special as well, playing in his home ground. #ProteaFire #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/Oo6pDHuJE1

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 22, 2019

“There were too many soft wickets,” Sarfraz said of Pakistan’s top-order batting. “Hasan Ali batted very well. We had a chance at 80 for five. We needed one more wicket.”

The Proteas dominated the early exchanges.

Four batsmen succumbed to short-pitched bowling from the seam bowlers, while three fell to left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

Kagiso Rabada started Pakistan’s slide when he dismissed Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, both caught off mistimed pull shots against short deliveries on a pitch which was slow, but with steep bounce when the ball was new.

Fakhar Zaman and Shoaib Malik also fell to short balls.

AFP

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