Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: April 13, 2021 | 
Mohammad Hafeez hits a six during the first ODI against South Africa at Saint Georges cricket stadium
South Africa entered the world of limited overs cricket at a time when the world was preparing for the fifth edition of the Cricket World Cup. They had been banned from playing international cricket for over 20 years, but this was during the time when One Day International (ODI) cricket was not yet fully established. Considered a strong team since its return, their relationship with the Pakistan team has been rocky since Jonty Rhodes’ famous dive to run-out Inzamam ul Haq, some 29 years back. Since then, Pakistan has had its share of 30 wins and 50 losses, in 50 overs games against South Africa. They may have lost to the Proteas, at home; but recently became the only other team after Australia, to win an ODI series in South Africa more than once.
Jonty Rhodes Running Out Inzamam ul Haq in 1992
In the recently concluded ODI series, opener Fakhar Zaman smashed back to back hundreds against a formidable bowling line-up. With his 193, he became the highest scorer while batting second in an ODI. However, it was his hundred in the next match which proved decisive. Let’s take a trip down memory lane for some of the very close encounters between the two countries.
Pakistan’s two earliest wins against South Africa came in 1993, by 10 runs in Durban and by 9 in East London, South Africa. It was the first ever limited overs tri-series played in South Africa, and Pakistan beat the home team on all occasions. During Pakistan vs South Africa’s second match, the first for Waqar Younis, South Africa were bowled out for 198 while chasing 209. Younis took five wickets in the match, including valuable wickets of Andrew Hudson, Hansie Cronje and Daryl Cullinan.
Waqar Younis Bowling
In East London, it was the legendary Javed Miandad’s eighth and last ODI century of his career, and the first by any Pakistani batsman during a match against South Africa. Miandad was involved in a fourth wicket partnership of 165 runs with Asif Mujtaba, hitting sixes off Fanie de Villeirs and Brian MacMillan. Setting a revised target of 172 in 31 overs, South Africa succumbed to Wasim Akram, who took 5 wickets for just 16 runs. Pakistan defeated South Africa in the league match for the Mandela Trophy in December 1994, when Ijaz Ahmed smashed 114 off 90 deliveries. But that was to be their last win over South Africa for years to come.
In the league match of the Wills World Cup 1996 in Karachi, Pakistan managed 242 in the allotted overs, thanks to 111 from the opener Aamir Sohail. However, South Africa achieved their target with over five overs to spare. In the triangular series, which took place in South Africa in 1998, Pakistan failed to beat the hosts. However, an up-and-coming Abdul Razzaq registered the highest score by a No.10 batsman in an ODI (a record back then), when he scored an unbeaten 46. Chasing 281 in a day/night match at Durban, Razzaq put on 72 runs with last man Younis, to keep Pakistan’s hopes of breaking the curse. When Waqar was dismissed, Pakistan still needed 53 off 14 deliveries, something Razzaq could have tried, had he been fully fit during the match.
Scenes from the Wills World Cup 1996
Pakistan faced South Africa in a crucial encounter of the Super Sixes during the World Cup 1999. At Nottingham, Inzamam ul Haq was once again run out by Jonty Rhodes, reminiscent of Brisbane ’92. It was wicket keeper Moin Khan who kept Pakistan’s hopes alive after scoring 63 off 56 balls. His innings included six fours and two sixes, both off Allan Donald. Moin’s slog sweep paid off as it helped Pakistan put on a decent 220 on board. South Africa were moving towards a defeat after Pakistan’s bowling attack reduced them to 58/5, but Lance Klusener, the man of the tournament, had other plans. With three sixes, Klusener scored 46 off 41 and made sure Pakistan stayed on the losing side.
Pakistan won for the first time in over 5 years, when they beat South Africa twice in the tri-nation series in March 2000. Playing at his second home in Sharjah, Waqar Younis returned to his menacing best, first by taking his 300th wicket in the round match and then once more in the final. It was on 28th March 2000 that Pakistan defended a meagre 168 runs against South Africa in the sixth match of the tournament. The ‘chokers’ as they were known, could only manage 101 with just two scores in double figures. Shoaib Akhtar took three wickets, while Waqar and Razzaq claimed two each. In the next match, which was to be the final, South Africa failed to chase 264, and lost wickets at regular intervals. Eventually, they ended up 16 runs short, whereas Younis became the ‘Man of the Match’ and the series as a whole, with his four wickets.
In the next 28 matches, spread over 10 years, Pakistan could only manage to win seven. It was in October 2010 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium, when Abdul Razzaq in peak form achieved the impossible for Pakistan. During a situation very similar to that at Durban 12 years ago, Pakistan’s top order faltered at chasing 287. Coming at 136/5, Abdul Razzaq made sure he stayed till the end. Razzaq scored 109 off 72 deliveries, with 10 sixes and seven fours, achieving the target with one ball to spare.
Abdul Razzaq celebrates an unbelievable victory, Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi 2010
These were the innings which changed it all, and was the start of better score against South Africa. Since 2012/13, both teams have played 25 matches, with Pakistan winning 12 of them. This includes two away-series wins and matches during ICC tournaments. Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti’s match winning performance on their debut, former Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s innings of 49 and six catches at Auckland in 2015, and Haris Sohail, Wahab Riaz and Shadab Khan’s combined heroics in World Cup 2019, will also be remembered as highlights of the Pakistan cricket team that performed well due to this exciting and constantly shifting rivalry.
Asad Ali, Wahab Riaz, Hafeez, and Imran Farhat starred in a convincing six-wicket victory for Pakistan over South Africa
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