South Africa Edge Nail-Biter To Win By Two Runs

South Africa Edge Nail-Biter To Win By Two Runs

South Africa celebrated a two-run win in the third match in Dubai

©REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa 228-9 (Amla 119no, Shoaib Akhtar 3-39) beat
Pakistan 226-9 (Fawad Alam 59no, Morkel 4-47) by two runs
Third One-Day International, Dubai
Scorecard

The third One-Day International between Pakistan and South Africa in Dubai produced another nail-biter, which South Africa held on to win by two runs.

Hashim Amla's rich vein of form continued as he stroked an unbeaten century as South Africa posted 228 for nine and Morne Morkel's four wickets, and an excellent final over from Juan Theron, saw Pakistan restricted to 226 for nine in reply.

Amla scored his fifth century of the year as wickets fell at the other end, three of them to Shoaib Akhtar, who dismissed Jacques Kallis (0) and Colin Ingram (4) early on to reduce South Africa to 15 for two.

AB de Villiers (19) and JP Duminy (26) helped Amla, who closed unbeaten on 119, rebuild the innings before de Villiers was given out stumped, much to the dismay of the South African bench, off Shahid Afridi and Duminy guided Mohammad Hafeez into the gloves of Zulqarnain Haider.

David Miller was bowled by Hafeez for six and after Albie Morkel was caught by Hafeez as he launched Afridi high into the air for 19, Akhtar returned to bowl Johan Botha, still captaining the side in the absence of Graeme Smith, for 15.

Morne Morkel (2) and Theron (5) also fell cheaply but Amla's innings held South Africa's effort together as he faced 126 balls and hit nine fours.

Pakistan made a steady start to their reply, Imran Farhat making 47 and Asad Shafiq 43 before Fawad Alam's unbeaten 59 in 67 balls gave the innings the boost it needed.

However, despite his best efforts, and a cameo of 21 in 11 balls from Wahab Riaz, he couldn't haul his side over the line.

Shoaib Akhtar was left with the task to hit the final ball of the match for four, and he could only manage a single.

The fourth match in the series is on Friday, 5th November.

© Cricket World 2010