South Africa fashioned an amazing 1-run victory over Pakistan in the first day-night one-day international in Sharjah on Wednesday, thanks to an incredible late collapse of the Pakistan batting.
Chasing a modest target of 184, Pakistan looked on course for a comfortable victory at 165 for four in the 41st over with opener Ahmed Shehzad laying the foundation with a half-century (58), before an incredible collapse saw them lose the next six wickets for 17 runs. The collapse was triggered by South Africa's Pakistan-born spinner Imran Tahir who claimed three late wickets to return with figures of 3-45.
Earlier, spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi had helped Pakistan bundle South Africa out for 183.Off-spinner Ajmal, who snared 4-30, dismissed Graeme Smith (20), Faf du Plessis (12) and skipper AB de Villiers (four) in his incisive six-over spell to leave South Africa struggling at 63-5 before Wayne Parnell hit a career best 56 to lift the innings after South Africa won the toss and batted at Sharjah stadium.
SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA: 183 all out in 49.5 overs (Smith 20, Duminy c Amin 20, Miller 37, Parnell 56, Tsotsobe 16 not out; Tanvir 2-33-2, Ajmal 4-30, Afridi 3-37)
PAKISTAN: 182 all out in 46.3 overs (Shehzad 58, Misbah 31; Tahir 3-45, Parnell 3-41)
Result: South Africa won by one run.
Man-of-the-match: Wayne Parnell