Maharaj (3-45) and Markram (2-48) slow Pakistan down before the death overs after they had reached 205/1
Innings Pakistan (Fakhar 101, Babar 94, Imam 57, Hasan 32*, Maharaj 3-45, Markram 2-48) vs South Africa
Eleven players changed across these two teams from the previous match but one of the others looked like he was in exactly the same run-scoring touch: Fakhar Zaman. Zaman hit his second successive century – the first from Pakistan to score more than one in South Africa in ODIs – and ensured the hosts will need to pull off the highest successful chase at this ground to win the series.
Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq laid a solid foundation with a 112-run first-wicket stand, becoming the first Pakistan opening pair to record five century stands in ODIs, before captain Babar Azam took his time and almost stole the show. He fell six short of a hundred, but shared in a 63-run seventh-wicket stand with Hasan Ali – who scored 32 off 11 balls – in just four overs to lift Pakistan to 320 for 7.
South Africa, fielding an entirely different frontline seam attack because of their IPL departures, missed Anrich Nortje’s pace in particular. The replacements, Daryn Dupvaillon, Lutho Sipamla and Beuran Hendricks, bowled 18 overs for 118 runs and did not take a wicket. Instead, it was Keshav Maharaj, brought in for Tabraiz Shamsi, who enjoyed the most success, supported by allrounder Jon-Jon Smuts and part-time offspinner Aiden Markram. In total, South Africa bowled 28 overs of spin, the most in a home ODI, and they picked up six wickets between them.
More to follow…
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent