South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI: Live Score and Updates from ...

SA vs PAK

SA vs PAK, 3rd ODI Live Updates: South Africa have won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. After winning the first two ODIs, Pakistan are looking for a series whitewash while the Proteas are looking for a consolation win.

01:58 IST:

36.6: Naseem Shah to Bjorn Fortuin, No run.

01:57 IST:

36.6: Naseem Shah to Bjorn Fortuin, Wide!

01:56 IST:

36.5: Naseem Shah to Corbin Bosch, Full and straight again, on middle. Corbin Bosch works it away towards mid on for a quick single. Had to scamper there at the non-striker's end. 

01:55 IST:

36.4: Naseem Shah to Corbin Bosch, Bowled full and on the pads. Corbin Bosch flicks this one off his legs towards deep fine leg. The batters run through for a brace. 

01:55 IST:

36.3: Naseem Shah to Corbin Bosch, On a good length, around middle, Bosch clips it straight to short mid-wicket. He takes a step and Fortuin thinks there is a single on offer but then Corbin stops. Fortuin has to reverse his skates but he slips, while trying to turn around. Still, manages to beat the throw and make it back in time.

01:54 IST:

36.2: Naseem Shah to Corbin Bosch, Full and straight, driven straight back to Naseem.

01:54 IST:

36.1: Naseem Shah to Corbin Bosch, EDGED, FOUR! Not for the first time in this match. On a good length, around off, nipping back in, Corbin Bosch looks to defend but the ball straightens a touch, squares Bosch up, takes the outside edge and goes through the vacant slip cordon. All the way to the deep third fence.

01:54 IST:

Change of ends for Muqeem or change of bowler? The latter. Pace is back on. Naseem Shah returns. 6-0-40-1 so far.

01:53 IST:

35.6: Salman Agha to Bjorn Fortuin, SIX! Deposited right into the stands. This one is bowled full and outside off, turning into the batter. Bjorn Fortuin goes on one knee and slog sweeps it over the man at the cow corner fence for a six.

01:52 IST:

35.5: Salman Agha to Bjorn Fortuin, Fuller again, on the leg stump, turning away. Bjorn Fortuin works it towards short fine leg. 

01:51 IST:

35.4: Salman Agha to Bjorn Fortuin, Floated up on middle, turning away. Bjorn Fortuin leans on and flicks it towards mid-wicket. 

01:51 IST:

35.3: Salman Agha to Corbin Bosch, On middle and leg, helped through square leg for a single.

01:51 IST:

35.2: Salman Agha to Corbin Bosch, Thrown up, outside off, Bosch reaches out and drives, but finds cover.

01:51 IST:

35.1: Salman Agha to Corbin Bosch, Full around off, watchfully punched back to the bowler.

01:52 IST:

Dear me. A maiden in the 35th over? But perhaps smart thinking. South Africa know that spin is not their forte, so they want to see the spinners off, confident that if they bat properly, they can score against the pacers. Can they, though? Rizwan won't let them breathe. More spin. Salman Agha introduced.

01:49 IST:

34.6: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, Superb stuff! A maiden from Saim. Ends with figures of 10-1-34-1. This was the googly from Saim, short and on off, Bjorn Fortuin was a bit late in picking it but he managed to adjust well to keep it out.

01:49 IST:

34.5: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, Very full, sliding in, at the toes, Bjorn Fortuin digs it it out back to the bowler.

01:49 IST:

34.4: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, Offers flight, full and on off, Bjorn Fortuin presses forward and taps it to the left of the bowler but Saim is quick to move to that side and keeps it to a dot.

01:48 IST:

34.3: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, The carrom ball, outside off, Bjorn Fortuin looks to drive but the ball spins away, takes the outside edge and goes towards short third.

01:48 IST:

34.2: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, Full again, driven towards cover again.

01:48 IST:

34.1: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, Outside off, pushed towards cover.

01:48 IST:

An update on Wiaan Mulder. After getting hit on his right thumb during the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, the word is that he is looking much better and could be primed to feature in the Boxing Day Test. But Shaun Pollock on air just wants to hold his horses and advices to wait for the D-day.

01:47 IST:

33.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Floated up, full and on middle, Bosch pushes it down the deck where Muqeem throws a dive to his right to stop the single.

01:46 IST:

33.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, FOUR! Muqeem overcorrects and gets punished! Dropped way too short and it is the googly, around off, Corbin Bosch gets on the back foot quickly and powers it to the left of the cover fielder for four more runs. 12 runs off the 5 balls so far, all in boundaries.

01:46 IST:

33.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, FOUR! Nicely swept! Turning into the batter, fuller in length, Corbin Bosch reaches out in front as he goes for the sweep. Hits it aerially but well away from the man at deep square leg to his right for a boundary.

01:45 IST:

33.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Outside off, steered towards short third.

01:45 IST:

33.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, On middle, punched back to the bowler.

01:44 IST:

33.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, FOUR! Nicely done. The googly alright, but short in length. Wide outside off, Corbin Bosch punches it through point for a boundary. 89 more needed from 83 balls.

01:43 IST:

32.6: Saim Ayub to Corbin Bosch, Tossed up, full and on off, driven past cover for a single by Bosch.

01:43 IST:

32.5: Saim Ayub to Corbin Bosch, Flatter and shorter, on off, Corbin Bosch hops back and pats it to cover.

01:43 IST:

32.4: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, This is the carrom ball, on off, on a length, Bjorn Fortuin looks to push it down the ground but he is a bit early into his shot. It goes uppishly but well away from Ayub to his left. They cross.

01:42 IST:

32.3: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, On off, watchfully kept out.

01:42 IST:

32.2: Saim Ayub to Bjorn Fortuin, The carrom ball, outside off, pushed towards short third.

01:42 IST:

32.1: Saim Ayub to Corbin Bosch, A touch short, around middle, Corbin Bosch punches it down to long on for a single.

01:41 IST:

Bjorn Fortuin walks in next at number 9, replacing Marco Jansen.

01:41 IST:

31.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, OUT! TAKEN! Marco Jansen falls now and South Africa have been dealt another dent in this chase. Floated up by Muqeem from over the wicket, full and at the stumps, Marco Jansen skips down the track to launch it down the ground but ends up getting too close to the ball. As a result, he fails to get the elevation on the shot and hits it flat towards mid off. Saim Ayub moves across to his left quickly and holds onto a sharp catch at chest height. Jansen goes for 26 (22). South Africa are 212/7 and need another 96 from 90 balls.

01:39 IST:

31.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Quicker and shorter, on middle, Bosch nudges it past backward square leg for one.

01:38 IST:

31.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, A stifled appeal for LBW! But from this over-the-wicket angle, it is tough to get batters out LBW. Fuller and quicker, on the pads, Marco fails to get any bat on the sweep. The ball rolls off his pads behind square on the leg side. The batters take a single and a leg bye has been signalled.

01:38 IST:

31.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, Full and flat, around off, Marco Jansen defends.

01:37 IST:

31.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Down the leg side, Bosch works it through square leg for a single. 

01:37 IST:

31.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Outside off, the googly, Corbin Bosch looks to drive but misses.

01:37 IST:

What a contrasting couple of overs. This is what limited overs cricket is all about. But hitting is all fine. Realistically, it is South Africa need 99, Pakistan need 4.

01:36 IST:

30.6: Shaheen Afridi to Marco Jansen, SIX! One brings two for Jansen and this is even bigger! Shaheen tries to go into the wicket but fails to get it anywhere close to a troubling height. Sits up nicely for Jansen who gets his front leg out of the way quickly and whacks it over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie. A good end to the over for the hosts. 14 runs off it. South Africa need 99 runs in 96 balls.

01:35 IST:

30.5: Shaheen Afridi to Marco Jansen, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Angling away, on a length, outside off, Marco Jansen clears his front leg and clobbers it over wide long on using his long levers. The 200 comes up for South Africa. They need 105 runs in 97 balls.

01:34 IST:

30.4: Shaheen Afridi to Corbin Bosch, At 137 kph, short and wide on off, Corbin Bosch presses back and slaps it along the carpet to deep cover for a single.

01:33 IST:

30.3: Shaheen Afridi to Corbin Bosch, Outside off, driven towards cover now.

01:33 IST:

30.2: Shaheen Afridi to Corbin Bosch, Around off, Corbin Bosch goes hard at it but mistimes it towards mid off.

01:32 IST:

30.1: Shaheen Afridi to Marco Jansen, On a good length, around off, angling away, Marco Jansen punches it towards cover-point. There is a fumble and it results in a single.

01:32 IST:

Final nail then? Klaasen falls and the next 8 balls result in just a run. 113 from 102 looks doable but with 4 wickets in hand? Unlikely.

01:30 IST:

29.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Quicker and flatter on the stumps. Corbin Bosch rocks back and slaps it towards cover. 

01:30 IST:

29.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Full and on middle, turns in. Corbin Bosch tucks it towards mid-wicket for no run. 

01:30 IST:

29.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Massive appeal there from Mohammad Rizwan from behind the stumps but nothing doing. This one is floated up on middle. Corbin Bosch goes on one knee and looks to sweep it, instead wears it on the pads. The reason for the decision not favouring the bowling side might be a bit of height. 

01:29 IST:

29.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, A loud appeal for LBW but that looked to have pitched outside leg. No review taken. Another googly by Sufiyan, on a nagging length, landing outside the leg stump line, Corbin fails to pick it from the hand. Tries to work it away on the leg side with a closed bat face but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball spins away and hits him on the back leg.

01:28 IST:

29.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Dishes out the googly, short and outside off, Corbin Bosch gets on the back foot and punches it along the carpet to mid off.

01:28 IST:

29.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Corbin Bosch, Tossed up, very full, on off, Corbin Bosch jams it out in front of point.

01:27 IST:

28.6: Shaheen Afridi to Corbin Bosch, Outside off, punched through the covers for a run.

01:26 IST:

28.5: Shaheen Afridi to Corbin Bosch, On a good length, around off, Corbin Bosch plays it nicely towards cover.

01:26 IST:

Debutant Corbin Bosch walks in next at number 8, replacing Heinrich Klaasen.

01:23 IST:

28.4: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP. And Shaheen Afridi gets the last laugh. Coming from around the wicket, fired in full and on middle. This is bread and butter for someone like Klassen but he falls to his own strength this time.  He lines himself up for another flick of his pads and deposits it straight into the hands of Tayyab Tahir, stationed at the deep mid-wicket fence and he does not make a mistake in completing that catch. Pakistan have punched a massive hole in this South African line up! Heinrich Klaasen departs for yet another spectacular knock - 81 (43) and South Africa are 194/6, needing another 114 from 110 balls.

01:21 IST:

28.3: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, SIX! Picked up with ease! A cross-seam delivery, on off, on a length, Heinrich Klaasen walks across his stumps and brings his bottom hand into play. Whips it over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie.

01:20 IST:

28.2: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, Changes his angle of attack as he comes from around the wicket and angles it in, at the stumps, on a good length, Heinrich Klaasen punches it back to Shaheen.

01:19 IST:

28.1: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Hit with real authority! This is on a back of a length from over the wicket, on off, Heinrich Klaasen camps on the back foot and nails the pull to the left of deep square leg. It almost went the distance. It goes one bounce for a boundary.

01:19 IST:

Change? Nope. Afridi continues.

01:18 IST:

27.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, Fuller, around middle and leg, Heinrich wrists it through mid on for a run to keep the strike.

01:17 IST:

27.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, Around middle and off, Klaasen pats it down the track.

01:17 IST:

27.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Muscled away. Floated up full and on the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen converts it into a full toss and drives it hard, back past the non-striker and the ball races towards the long off fence for another boundary. 

01:16 IST:

27.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, Looped up, at the stumps, Marco Jansen takes it on the full and sweeps it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

01:16 IST:

27.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, Very full, on middle and leg, at 92 kph, Marco Jansen lunges to flick it away but plays all around it and gets rapped on the front pad. 

01:15 IST:

27.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Marco Jansen, Tossed up but the line is on the pads, on a length, Jansen misses the tickle. The ball rolls off the pads towards short fine leg.

01:14 IST:

26.6: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! CLOUT! Hattrick of fours! Short and wide outside off, Heinrich Klaasen stays camped on the back foot and punches it through cover and point! 16 from the over, all in boundaries!

01:13 IST:

26.5: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Two in two! A short ball, down the leg side, Klaasen goes for the pull but with his eyes closed. Fortune favours the brave though and the ball flies off the top edge, over the keeper, to the fine leg fence! 50-RUN STAND UP IN 36 BALLS and Jansen has scored only 12 of them. Klaasen moves to 62 (35).

01:12 IST:

26.4: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Crunched away! Bowled full and on the middle stump. Heinrich Klaasen in all his glory, presents a full face of the bat and drives it back straight past the bowler. The ball races towards the long off fence in an instant. 

01:12 IST:

26.3: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, Into the wicket by Shaheen, on middle and leg, Heinrich Klaasen goes for the pull but the ball comes off the toe end of the bat and rolls in front of mid-wicket.

01:11 IST:

26.2: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Cracked away! A bit too wide on off, on a back of a length, Heinrich Klaasen stands tall and muscles this one down onto the ground. Beats cover to his left and also manages to get it away from the fielder in the deep to his right for a boundary.

01:10 IST:

26.1: Shaheen Afridi to Heinrich Klaasen, Swing and a miss! Angling across, on a back of a length, over off, Heinrich Klaasen stays put and has a swipe across the line. Gets beaten on the inside edge. Rizwan goes up in appeal as soon as he gathers it but gets no support from the bowler.

01:09 IST:

25.6: Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, FOUR! That was absolutely out of the top draw! Bowled back of a length, outside off, nips in. Marco Jansen pulls out the short arm jab this time, towards the deep mid-wicket fence. Tayyab Tahir runs in from behind square and manages to pull it back in his first attempt but then runs outside the boundary cushions. That does not give him another chance to make another attempt and the ball finally goes on to hit the boundary cushions. 

01:08 IST:

25.5: Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, Fuller and outside off stump, moves away slightly. Marco Jansen defends it towards cover. 

01:08 IST:

25.4: Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, On a good length, on the off peg. Doesn't do much off the seam. Marco Jansen gets his head over the ball and defends it firmly back towards the bowler. 

01:08 IST:

25.3: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, Sliding onto the pads, on a good length, Heinrich Klaasen fails to get any bat on it as he tries to help it away. It rolls off the thigh pad down to deep fine leg. Single taken, leg bye signalled.

01:06 IST:

25.2: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Just a punch and it races away! That will be FIFTY FOR KLAASEN off just 29 balls. Third consecutive fifty in the series. Will this one come in a winning cause? Coming to the delivery, this was on a back of a length, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen hung back and just presented the full face of the bat. Timed it back down the deck, beating Naseem to his right.

01:06 IST:

25.1: Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, A bit too straight, at the hips, on a back of a length, Marco Jansen glances it down to deep fine leg for a single.

01:05 IST:

24.6: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, And again. Almost similar to the previous delivery. Fuller and outside off, turning away. Heinrich Klaasen presents a full face of the bat and punches it back towards the bowler. 

01:04 IST:

24.5: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Fuller again and outside off. Heinrich Klaasen drives it off the full face of the bat, back towards the bowler. 

01:04 IST:

24.4: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Full and outside off, turning away. Heinrich Klaasen leans on and drives it towards cover-point. 

01:04 IST:

24.3: Saim Ayub to Marco Jansen, On middle, a touch short, this time Jansen stays back and punches it through mid on for a run.

01:03 IST:

24.2: Saim Ayub to Marco Jansen, FOUR! CLUNK! Now, that will please Klaasen, if someone helps him out. The carrom ball, around middle, just short of full, Marco Jansen uses his long reach, gets down on a knee and slogs the ball over mid-wicket! 150 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA. 157 more needed from 136 balls.

01:03 IST:

24.1: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Full, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen works it through mid on for a single.

01:03 IST:

The on-air commentators are having a go at one another and all of them are Proteas! Mike Haysman, Hashim Amla and Kepler Wessels. Each is trying to chide the other to make a statement that this game is done. Amla stays on the borderline, saying that the Pink outfit makes the South African players do special things. So he is still hopeful that the home side can pull off a win from here. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Test skipper, Shan Masood is in the stands! The series kicks off from Boxing Day, i.e., 26th December 2024 and he is just chilling off at the moment.

01:02 IST:

23.6: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, Almost a carbon copy of the previous delivery. Fuller and on middle. Heinrich Klaasen flicks it off his hips, fine towards deep fine leg for a single. 

01:01 IST:

23.5: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, Back of a length, on middle again, nips in this time. Heinrich Klaasen flicks it in between deep backward square leg and deep square leg. Salman Agha runs to his right from deep square leg, puts in the dive and saves two for his team. 

01:00 IST:

23.4: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, Back of a length, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen flicks it wide of mid on for a brace. 

01:00 IST:

23.3: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, Fuller and around off, Klaasen works it through square leg. He takes the single but on seeing deep square leg racing to his left and slipping while trying to throw the ball, the batters take the second. Heinrich moves to 40 (21).

00:59 IST:

23.2: Naseem Shah to Marco Jansen, Outside off, punched on the up by Marco Jansen through the covers for a run. 169 more needed from 142 balls.

00:58 IST:

23.1: Naseem Shah to Heinrich Klaasen, A bit too straight, Heinrich Klaasen clips it through square leg for a single.

00:59 IST:

Is it going to be Pakistan vs Klaasen again? The required rate has already touched 7 and with half the side down, it seems a tall order for the Proteas. But just because of what that man can do and did in Cape Town, one can never say how much is too much for Heinrich. Naseem Shah is back on. 4-0-22-1 so far.

00:57 IST:

22.6: Saim Ayub to Marco Jansen, Pulls the length back a bit, grips and turns away. Marco Jansen plays it with soft hands and the ball drops dead back down. 

00:57 IST:

22.5: Saim Ayub to Marco Jansen, Fuller but quicker through the air. Marco Jansen lunges to drive it back towards the bowler. 

00:56 IST:

22.4: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Floated up and outside off, turning away. Heinrich Klaasen rocks back to cut it towards point for a single. 

00:55 IST:

22.3: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, SIX! What a shot is that! Fractionally short, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen rocks back and pulls it massively over wide long on!

00:54 IST:

22.2: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Outside off, a touch flatter, punched towards cover.

00:54 IST:

22.1: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Landed outside off, Heinrich Klaasen punches it straight to backward point.

00:53 IST:

21.6: Mohammad Hasnain to Marco Jansen, Fuller and on the off stump. Marco Jansen punches it back towards the bowler with a full face of the bat. 

00:52 IST:

21.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Heinrich Klaasen, Fuller, outside off, Klaasen looks to drive but the ball comes slowly off the deck. Takes the inner half of the bat and nurdles behind square leg. A run taken.

00:52 IST:

21.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Solid from Heinrich Klaasen. Pitched in short, directed towards the batter. This one nicely sits up for Klaasen to pull it away and he does that towards deep mid-wicket to pick up another boundary.  

00:51 IST:

21.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Marco Jansen, Outside off, punched wide of cover for a single.

00:50 IST:

21.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Marco Jansen, Around off, punched towards mid off.

00:50 IST:

21.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Heinrich Klaasen, Outside off, on a length, Heinrich Klaasen drives it through the covers for a single.

00:49 IST:

20.6: Saim Ayub to Marco Jansen, Full and outside off, turning away, Marco Jansen swishes but misses. What a spell this is from the centurion - 6-0-18-1!

00:47 IST:

Marco Jansen walks in next at number 7, replacing David Miller.

00:47 IST:

20.5: Saim Ayub to David Miller, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! What a terrific piece of anticipation! Terrific bit of keeping by Mohammad Rizwan. Miller walks off with a wry smile on his face. He cannot help but smile at that catch. Fuller in length, outside off, David Miller gets down and looks to paddle it around the corner. The ball hits the bat flush alright but Rizwan quickly gets across to his right, expecting the ball to come his way. It comes thick and fast to him and he reacts in defense actually, trying to save himself, rather than catch the ball. Luckily for him, it hits his gloves and pops up back in the air. The skipper takes it on the second attempt and Pakistan are overjoyed! Two quick wickets for South Africa as they slip from 120/3 to 123/5! Miller departs for 3 (6) and the hosts need another 185 from 157 balls.

00:46 IST:

20.4: Saim Ayub to David Miller, A little slower through the air, DM goes back and tries to help it around the corner, but finds square leg this time!

00:47 IST:

20.3: Saim Ayub to David Miller, Fuller, on middle and leg, David works it towards short mid-wicket again.

00:47 IST:

20.2: Saim Ayub to David Miller, Change of angle, as Ayub comes around the wicket. Gets the ball to come in with the arm, around middle, Miller pats it towards short mid-wicket.

00:47 IST:

20.1: Saim Ayub to David Miller, Tossed up slowly through the air, around leg stump, David Miller flicks it to the right of the fielder diving at square leg and returns for the second.

00:47 IST:

So we will now have a result even if this rain intervenes later on. We don't wish for any interruptions but just saying, since 20 overs were needed in the second innings to constitute a match. The home side itself will not want the game to be halted any time soon. Because, for the loss of 4 wickets, after 20 overs, the Proteas need to be at 159!

00:43 IST:

19.6: Mohammad Hasnain to David Miller, Honing in at the stumps, on a good length, whipped through mid-wicket for a single by Miller to get off the mark.

00:42 IST:

David Miller walks in next at number 6, replacing Rassie van der Dussen.

01:26 IST:

19.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, OUT! LBW! This looks dead straight and the finger is raised! Rassie van der Dussen has a chat with his partner and takes the review. Rassie has played all around to a straight delivery and this looks like a review more in hope, than anything else. Hasnain nails a yorker, on the off stump line, Rassie van der Dussen premeditates as he walks across his stumps to help it away fine on the leg side. Gets beaten on the leg side and gets hit on the left boot. An easy decision for the umpire. The UltraEdge shows no bat involved and it is three reds on Ball Tracking with the ball crashing into the middle stump. Rassie takes a review with him. The 40-run stand is broken. Rassie goes for 35 (53). South Africa are now 120/4 in 19.5 overs.

01:26 IST:

19.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Heinrich Klaasen, This skids off the deck, on a back of a length, over middle, Heinrich Klaasen stays back to defend. Gets it off the inner half of the bat in front of square leg. Klaasen thinks about two but the fielder in the deep is quick to get in off the ropes and keeps it down to one.

01:26 IST:

19.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Heinrich Klaasen, MISFIELD, FOUR!  A short ball, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen stands tall and pulls it beautifully, but to deep mid-wicket. But Kamran Ghulam gets across a couple of steps to his left and then overruns the ball. It slips behind him and meets the fence! 189 more needed from 165 balls.

01:26 IST:

19.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, On middle and leg, van der Dussen flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

01:26 IST:

19.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Mohammad Hasnain comes into the attack now. 4-0-19-0 so far. Starts bang on target, just outside off, Rassie van der Dussen defends it towards the off side.

01:26 IST:

18.6: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Tossed up, full and around off, Rassie van der Dussen knocks it down the ground to long off for a run.

01:26 IST:

18.5: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, This is fired in, fuller and on off, Rassie van der Dussen lunges and stabs it down on the off side.

01:25 IST:

18.4: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Loopy delivery, at 86 kph, on off, on a length, Rassie van der Dussen presses forward in defence.

00:35 IST:

It has been a flurry of boundaries alright but South Africa are not finding it easy to rotate the strike. When that happens, it means that one batter is facing the bowler for more deliveries and that could also increase the chances of a wicket.

01:25 IST:

18.3: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Outside off, pushed down to long off for a run.

01:25 IST:

18.2: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller, around off, van der Dussen lunges and punches it through mid off for a single.

01:25 IST:

18.1: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Outside off, spinning away, Rassie van der Dussen pushes but misses.

01:25 IST:

17.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, Tossed up, into the pads, Rassie van der Dussen nurdles it behind square on the leg side and crosses over.

01:24 IST:

17.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, SIX! Wow, what a shot! Slips in the googly and tries to keep it away from the batter's arc, near the tramline on off, on a nagging length, Rassie van der Dussen extends his hands into the shot and with a horizontal bat, clears the long off fence for a six.

01:24 IST:

17.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, NO BALL! Short and on off, punched from the crease to cover by Rassie. Sufiyan Muqeem has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

01:23 IST:

17.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, Almost dragged it back onto the stumps! Dishes out the googly, short and around off, Rassie van der Dussen makes room to force it through the off side. Gets an inside edge back onto the right pad.

01:22 IST:

17.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, This one is on the stumps, Heinrich backs away and punches it through the covers for a single.

01:22 IST:

17.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR MORE! Pretty much from the batter this time. Misdirected by Sufiyan, down the leg side, short in length as well. Klassen gets outside the line and pulls it to the right of short fine leg. 100 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA. 206 more needed from 178 balls.

01:20 IST:

17.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, EDGED, FOUR! Floated, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It will do nicely for South Africa as the ball races to the left of short third, into the fence behind.

01:16 IST:

16.6: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Floated up, full and on off, Rassie van der Dussen gets on the front foot and pushes it to cover.

01:16 IST:

16.5: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Nicely looped up, full and around off, Heinrich Klaasen reaches out in front and eases the drive past cover for a single.

01:16 IST:

16.4: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Serves it flat and short, on off, Heinrich Klaasen pats it back to Ayub.

01:16 IST:

16.3: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Landed outside off, Klaasen gets down and gently laps it through fine leg for a couple.

01:16 IST:

16.2: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Around middle, Rassie van der Dussen turns it through square leg for a run.

01:15 IST:

16.1: Saim Ayub to Heinrich Klaasen, Thrown up, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen drives it through the covers for a single.

01:15 IST:

15.6: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, Turning back in sharply, on a nagging length, on middle, Rassie van der Dussen hangs back and dabs it down the deck.

01:15 IST:

15.5: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! Short and punished! A half tracker by Sufiyan, on middle and leg, Rassie van der Dussen gets on the back foot in a flash and pulls it firmly through backward square leg. Naseem Shah in the deep sprints and slides to his left but fails to cut it off as the ball gets parried away into the fence off his legs. Naseem seems to have done himself some mischief while putting in that effort.

01:15 IST:

15.4: Sufiyan Muqeem to Rassie van der Dussen, Short and wide on off, Rassie van der Dussen reaches out for the cut but fails to connect.

01:15 IST:

15.3: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, Outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.

01:15 IST:

15.2: Sufiyan Muqeem to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! This guy is in excellent form. Not all that short, but Heinrich Klaasen rocks back, creates his own length and pulls it behind square leg!

00:23 IST:

Heinrich Klaasen walks in next at number 5, replacing Aiden Markram. Got so close to his century a couple of days back. Would love a repeat dose tonight.

01:15 IST:

15.1: Sufiyan Muqeem to Aiden Markram, OUT! CAUGHT! You have got to be joking. Jo'burg probably has the smallest ground in the whole of South Africa and even here, a batter has got caught out at the boundary. A nothing ball results in a wicket and what a stroke of luck for Pakistan. A long hop, right in the middle of the match, spinning away, Aiden Markram rocks back and looks to pull and connects well too. But he hits it pretty flat and Kamran Ghulam gets an easy catch at deep mid-wicket. Freebie of a delivery, a freebie of a wicket. Perhaps it hit the bottom of the bat. The stand has been broken and Markram departs for 19 (27). 

00:25 IST:

DRINKS BREAK. Excellent bit of cricket. Pakistan are trying to squeeze the home side. South Africa on the other hand, are trying to keep wickets in hand and build partnerships. It is still a challenge for them against spin. Here comes Sufiyan Muqeem.

01:15 IST:

14.6: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Outside off, pushed towards cover.

01:10 IST:

14.5: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Impact outside off? Full, outside off, Markram got down and across to play the paddle sweep but missed and got hit on the pads. Ayub roared an LBW appeal but the umpire moved away. Rizwan got his players together and had a massive discussion, about to take the review with 2 seconds left on the clock. But then, it seemed like Ayub himself was not sure where the impact was. Good thing that the review was not taken in the end. Meanwhile, a single was taken and it has been signalled as a leg bye. The Ball Tracker shows that the impact was in line but the ball was clipping the outer half of off stump, which means Umpire's Call. So the review would have been retained but the decision would not have changed.

00:16 IST:

Gone? There is a huge shout for LBW and Ayub seems interested but the umpire does not. Rizwan thinks about the review but does not gain confidence from his bowler or fielders. Review not taken.

01:10 IST:

14.4: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, On middle and leg, Aiden Markram bunts it towards short mid-wicket.

01:10 IST:

14.3: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Around off, punched through wide mid off for a single.

01:10 IST:

14.2: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, What a lovely ball. Was that a leg spinner? No, it seems like a carrom ball only. Landed outside off, van der Dussen looks to drive it through the off side but the ball pitches and then spins away, beating the outside edge.

01:10 IST:

14.1: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller, around off, Rassie van der Dussen looks to punch it down the ground but Ayub himself dives to his left and stops the single.

01:06 IST:

13.6: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, Another lovely ball. Hasnain pitches it up again but the line is a lot straighter. Aiden looks to defend it down the pitch but the ball straightens and squares him up. Takes the leading edge and goes towards backward point.

01:12 IST:

13.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Up and over! What a riposte! Hasnain goes fuller and Markram pounces. A bit wider outside off, Aiden Markram reaches out and lofts it beautifully over the covers. The stand is worth 33 (44).

01:12 IST:

13.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, That is a beauty! There was a sound as the ball went through to the keeper but was there bat involved? Not as per the keeper or anyone behind the stumps. A terrific delivery, on a good length, with excellent bounce, Aiden Markram looks to defend but the ball jags back in sharply, He hops due to the bounce but is unable to counter the movement. Is cramped for room and the replay shows the ball missing the inside edge and hitting his back pad, before going through to Rizwan.

01:12 IST:

13.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, On a good length, around middle, Rassie nudges it with soft hands through mid-wicket and takes the single.

01:12 IST:

13.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, A slower ball, shorter in length, a bit wider outside off, van der Dussen shoulders arms.

01:12 IST:

13.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, WIDE. Way outside off, left alone.

01:12 IST:

13.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Full, around middle, Rassie van der Dussen pushes it towards mid on. Sets off for a single but then quickly changes his mind.

00:09 IST:

Plenty of encouragement coming from the keeper cum skipper, Mohammad Rizwan. After every ball, he was encouraging the youngster Ayub. Ended the over by saying, 'THEEK HAI, THEEK HAI, KAAM CHAL GAYA!' Meaning, 'It is okay, it is okay, we have got away with it.'

00:07 IST:

12.6: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Full, around middle and leg, watchfully defended.

00:07 IST:

12.5: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, A touch short, around off, van der Dussen punches it towards long off for a run.

00:07 IST:

12.4: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Very full, the off spinner, around middle, Rassie van der Dussen drives it back to the bowler.

00:06 IST:

12.3: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Another carrom ball, on middle and leg, Markram watches it closely, picks the spin and pushes it beautifully down the ground through mid on for a single.

00:06 IST:

12.2: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, The off spinner now, outside off, fuller, Aiden Markram drives it towards short extra cover.

00:06 IST:

12.1: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Landed around middle and leg, another carrom ball I suspect, punched back to the bowler.

00:06 IST:

It has been a good exhibition of pace by the Pakistan seamers. All three - Afridi, Naseem and Hasnain - have bowled in excess of 140 kph.

00:05 IST:

11.6: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Full and just outside off, Rassie defends it towards point.

00:04 IST:

11.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, Short and wide outside off, Aiden rocks back and cuts it through point for another run.

00:03 IST:

11.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, On a good length, around off, van der Dussen helps it through mid-wicket for one more.

00:02 IST:

11.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, Around off, pushed towards mid off for a quick single.

00:02 IST:

11.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, EDGED, FOUR! Width and Markram slashes. The boundaries here provide value for your shots. Short and wide outside off, Aiden Markram slashes hard and gets a thick outside edge which flies over the vacant slip cordon. There is deep third present but the ball goes much finer, to his left.

00:01 IST:

11.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Landed outside off, a touch short, Rassie van der Dussen throws his bat at it and slashes the ball over point for a single.

00:01 IST:

10.6: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, DROPPED! Well, it was his day and normally, on such days, such things stick. Unfortunately for Ayub, it does not stick. Landed outside off, Aiden Markram looks to push it down the ground for a single but ends up playing a bit too early. As a result, a catch is spooned to the left of the bowler. Saim Ayub flings himself to his left and goes one-handed but the ball pops out. Replay later shows that it was actually a carrom ball. Meaning, the ball, intended to spin in, spun away. Interesting.

23:59 IST:

10.5: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Around off, spinning in, worked through square leg for another single.

23:59 IST:

10.4: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Around middle and leg, Aiden punches it towards long on for one.

23:59 IST:

10.3: Saim Ayub to Rassie van der Dussen, Around off, Rassie van der Dussen eases this wider of the bowler, slightly wide of long off for a run.

23:58 IST:

10.2: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Fired through flatter, outside off, Markram punches this past the bowler, to long off for a single.

23:58 IST:

10.2: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, WIDE. Slipped down the leg side, Aiden Markram cannot connect with his flick.

23:58 IST:

10.1: Saim Ayub to Aiden Markram, Full, around off, pushed back to the bowler.

00:00 IST:

POWERPLAY 2 time. 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 38th over. It was a balanced Powerplay 1 and the middle overs could dictate terms again. It has been the middle overs which has hurt South Africa in the series, through spin. Talking about spin, here comes Saim Ayub.

23:57 IST:

9.6: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, On a good length, outside off, swinging away and goes further away off the wicket as well. Rassie van der Dussen leaves it alone. 

23:56 IST:

9.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller and just outside off, swinging away. Rassie van der Dussen comfortably gets forward and defends it back towards the bowler with soft hands. 

23:55 IST:

9.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Back of a length, on off. Rassie van der Dussen defends it back onto the ground.

23:55 IST:

9.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Even fuller this time by Hasnain, outside off, Rassie van der Dussen lunges for the drive but fails to get the desired placement. The bat turns in his hand and he hits it along the ground towards mid off.

23:54 IST:

9.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Closer to the off stump line, on a length, and there is that away shape again, Rassie van der Dussen gets on the front foot and taps it down the deck with a straight bat.

23:54 IST:

9.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Swinging away, on a good length, around off, Rassie van der Dussen presses forward and taps it down on the off side.

23:57 IST:

The drizzle seems to have abated, one feels. Cannot see any rain drops now. But there is more expected in the radar. Remember, for the match to have a result, at least 20 overs need to be bowled in this run chase. As of now, from the sheet that we have, it reads the par score as 119/2 after the end of 20 overs. Which means, the Proteas need to touch 120 if they are to be on the winning side, 2 wickets down, after 20 overs.

23:53 IST:

8.6: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller and on off stump, swinging away. Rassie van der Dussen defends it with a dead bat and immediately senses an opportunity for a quick single while the mid on and mid-wicket come through, the batter comfortably gets in. 

23:52 IST:

8.5: Naseem Shah to Aiden Markram, Oh, that was close to the stumps. Goes fuller again, on middle. Aiden Markram looks to cut it but is too close for comfort and takes the bottom edge and just flies past the leg stump to go towards deep fine leg and the batters run through for a single. 

23:51 IST:

8.4: Naseem Shah to Aiden Markram, Full and on middle stump. Does not move that much. Aiden Markram looks to play from inside his crease and just with his hands, right underneath his eyes. 

23:50 IST:

8.3: Naseem Shah to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Fortuitous boundary! Honing in on the off stump line, on a good length, Aiden Markram hangs on the back foot to see this one out with a straight bat. There is just enough away movement that results in the ball squaring Markram up and catching the outside edge. It beats the diving first slip fielder to his right for a boundary.

23:51 IST:

Oh dear. There is a drizzle in the air now. The forecast said that there is rain expected and it is expected to get heavier as the game goes on. For now, play continues as this might just be a passing shower.

23:50 IST:

8.2: Naseem Shah to Aiden Markram, Lands it full again, on off, Aiden Markram mistimes the drive and it goes straight to cover.

23:49 IST:

8.1: Naseem Shah to Aiden Markram, At 139 kph, full and swinging away, outside off, Aiden Markram frees his arms as he looks to go for the drive. Miscues it off the inner half of the bat towards mid on.

23:49 IST:

Nice to see the mexican wave go up in the crowd. Irrespective of the series status, the people are enjoying themselves. That's what you come to the cricket field for. The match results are not in your control but you can enjoy the game irrespective. Change of ends for Naseem Shah now. 3-0-15-1 from the other end.

23:48 IST:

7.6: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, On a good length, outside off, angling away, van der Dussen shoulders arms.

23:47 IST:

7.5: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller, around off, swinging away, Rassie van der Dussen comes forward, covers the line and the swing and pushes it towards cover-point.

23:47 IST:

7.4: Mohammad Hasnain to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! Bowled back of a length, outside off, nips in. Rassie van der Dussen brings out the 'Natraj' this time to guide it fine, off his hips towards the deep fine leg fence to pick up another boundary. 

23:46 IST:

7.3: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, This jags back in off the wicket, on a hard length, on off, Aiden Markram is cramped up for room but he does well to ride the bounce and chop it down wide of cover for a run.

23:45 IST:

7.2: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, On a good length, in the channel on off, Aiden Markram shoulders arms.

23:45 IST:

7.1: Mohammad Hasnain to Aiden Markram, Steams in from over the wicket, at 134 kph, on a shortish length, on off, Aiden Markram does well to rise with the bounce and fends it down on the off side.

23:45 IST:

Meanwhile, Mike Haysman on air confirms that if South Africa win one of their 2 Tests against Pakistan starting from Boxing Day, the Proteas would be through to the World Test Championship final! As the current rankings stand, it seems like a knockout punch between Australia and India, but while the Asian side has only two more Tests left in this cycle, the Aussies have got 5 more Tests starting from the Boxing Day. It does seem like Sri Lanka are ruled out after losing their Test series against South Africa a month ago. But that Sri Lanka-Australia series in Sri Lanka could actually determine who among Australia or India make it through to the final. And we have the first bowling change. Mohammad Hasnain to bowl.

23:44 IST:

6.6: Shaheen Afridi to Rassie van der Dussen, Appeal there from Shaheen Afridi but not given! Seems like it might go over. Bowled back of a length, on off stump, swinging in. Rassie van der Dussen does not offer a shot and the ball thuds onto his pads but above the knee roll. The captain has a chat with the bowler and decides not to opt for a review in the end. 

23:43 IST:

6.5: Shaheen Afridi to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller in length, comes inward through the air. Rassie van der Dussen nudges it towards square leg. 

23:42 IST:

6.5: Shaheen Afridi to Rassie van der Dussen, WIDE! Full and wayward down leg. Rassie van der Dussen looks to flick it but misses his shot in the end. 

23:41 IST:

6.4: Shaheen Afridi to Aiden Markram, Bowled back of a length, on leg stump. Aiden Markram hops up, looks to tuck it as the ball loops up his thigh guard towards square leg. The batters run through for a single and the umpire acknowledges that it came off the thigh guard. 

23:39 IST:

6.3: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Now, that is a proper fast bowler's response! Shaheen bends his back and digs it in short. Slips in a well-directed bumper, at the left shoulder of the batter. Tony de Zorzi looks to fend it down off the back foot but the ball gets big on him and he gets hurried. He fails to drop his wrists in time to get out of the line of the ball. The ball catches him on the glove and balloons beside the pitch on the leg side. Afridi runs across to his left in his followthrough and completes the catch. Bangs the ball onto the turf and he is all pumped up. De Zorzi departs for 26 (23) and South Africa are 44/2, needing another 264 from 243 balls.

23:41 IST:

Aiden Markram walks in next at number 4, replacing Tony de Zorzi.

23:38 IST:

6.3: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Wide! Banged in short by Afridi but this sails over the batter's head for a wide. Shaheen feels hard done by.

23:38 IST:

6.2: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, SIX! BANG! 'Have some of that', says Tony! With an upright seam, this is on a length, outside off, Tony de Zorzi collapses his back knee to get underneath this one and launches it over cover for a flat six.

23:37 IST:

6.1: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, FOUR! Easy pickings! Too straight from Shaheen, on a length, on the pads, Tony de Zorzi is already standing on the off stump and just flicks it to the left of the man at mid-wicket for a boundary.

23:38 IST:

Time for a change? Not yet. Afridi continues.

23:36 IST:

5.6: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, Back of a length, just around off stump, swinging away. Rassie van der Dussen hops up to play that one and is opened up completely but still manages to defend it with a full face of the bat, back down onto the ground. 

23:35 IST:

5.5: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, Pulls his length back a bit, does Naseem Shah. Bowled outside off, swinging away. Rassie van der Dussen awkwardly prods at it as he is slightly opened up and defends it right underneath his eyes. 

23:34 IST:

5.4: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller outside off, swinging away. Rassie van der Dussen goes forward and defends it firmly towards cover. 

23:34 IST:

A bit of a chat. Just before that boundary, Rassie van der Dussen called Tony de Zorzi for a brief discussion. And the next thing we know, it is a boundary. Maybe, it might have been about taking a quick single and rotating the strike after getting a boundary on the first ball, but now, two boundaries in the over mean that one of the slips has gone out.

23:33 IST:

5.3: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! Class written all over it! Naseem hurls it on a length, outside off, Rassie van der Dussen lets the ball come to him and then gets his hands through the line of the ball. Accounts for the away movement and creams the drive through covers for four more runs.

23:33 IST:

5.2: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, On a back of a length, on off, Rassie van der Dussen gets on top of the bounce and dabs it down on the off side.

23:32 IST:

5.1: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, FOUR! Beautifully played! Naseem bowls it full, just outside the off stump, Rassie van der Dussen walks across his stumps and gets behind the line of the ball. He has to ensure that he hits it away from the man at short mid on. Brings his wrists into play to get the placement right and hits it well wide and to the right of short mid on for a boundary.

23:32 IST:

After 5 overs, Pakistan were 17/1. So South Africa have got a headstart at least. They have 25 on the board, for the loss of a wicket as well, but one of those 5 overs was a maiden. Still, if they manage to stay in touch with the required rate, they can cover it up at the end. Jo'burg always assists shotmakers towards the end. But the home side needs to have wickets in hand.

23:31 IST:

4.6: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Full and outside off, swinging in.Tony de Zorzi gets forward and covers the line of the stump to defend it towards point. That is a maiden!

23:30 IST:

4.5: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Goes the other way this time. Bowled back of a length, outside off, swings away. Tony de Zorzi does not poke at it and lets it go through. 

23:30 IST:

4.4: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Cuts him in half, does Shaheen Afridi. Bowled on a good length, nips in off the wicket. Tony de Zorzi looks to push forward but the ball sneaks inward and goes past the inside edge and over the off stump. 

23:29 IST:

4.3: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Angling in, on a back of a length, on middle, Tony de Zorzi stays back and nudges it to mid-wicket.

23:29 IST:

4.2: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Play and a miss! Shaping away, on the fuller side, outside off, Tony de Zorzi tries to cash in on the width and goes for the drive away from the body but the ball does not bounce as much as the batter expected. Sneaks under the horizontal bat of Tony.

23:28 IST:

4.1: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Oh, that could have so easily gone back onto the stumps! Slanting in, on the off stump line, on a good length, Tony de Zorzi is a bit late on the shot. Tries to play it close to his body in an effort to keep it out. The ball catches the inside edge of the bat and rolls past the off stump.

23:27 IST:

3.6: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, Brings the batter on the front foot this time does Naseem as this is full and in the corridor of off, Rassie plants his front foot ahead and shoulders arms.

23:26 IST:

3.5: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, At 138 kph, on a back of a length, this skids through and rises on its way to the batter, Rassie van der Dussen reads it well and withdraws his hands and bat away from the line of the ball to let it go.

23:25 IST:

3.4: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, This is fuller and Naseem continues to get the ball to swing away, outside off, Rassie van der Dussen gets on the front foot nicely and taps it to cover.

23:25 IST:

3.3: Naseem Shah to Rassie van der Dussen, With a short mid on in place, Naseem steams in from over the wicket and keeps it in the channel on off, on a length, Rassie van der Dussen hangs back and stabs it down on the off side.

23:24 IST:

Rassie van der Dussen walks in next at number 3, replacing his skipper, Temba Bavuma.

23:23 IST:

3.2: Naseem Shah to Temba Bavuma, OUT! TAKEN! Naseem Shah gives Pakistan an early success! This is on a length, shaping away a touch, on off, Temba Bavuma looks to drive it on the up but ends up playing well in front of his body. As a result, he is unable to control the shot and the away movement results in the ball catching the outer half of the bat and flying straight to backward point where Saim Ayub takes a sitter near his waist. Naseem continues to smile as he always does and Bavuma, who was looking so good, has to depart for 8 (6). South Africa are 25/1 and need another 283 from 262 balls.

23:22 IST:

3.1: Naseem Shah to Tony de Zorzi, Shaping back in, at the stumps, on a good length, Tony de Zorzi tries to give himself room to force it through the off side. Mistimes the shot in front of mid on and the batters scamper across for a quick single.

23:21 IST:

2.6: Shaheen Afridi to Temba Bavuma, Going across the batter from over the wicket, on a back of a length, Temba Bavuma has a slight fiddle at the delivery and he is lucky not to nick this one behind.

23:20 IST:

2.5: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Hurls it on a short of a length, outside off, Tony de Zorzi waits on the back foot and glides it down to deep third for one more.

23:19 IST:

2.4: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Delivers it on a back of a length, on off, Tony de Zorzi is unable to free his arms to get the cut shot away. Ends up chopping it down in front of point.

23:19 IST:

2.3: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Fuller in length, on off, Tony de Zorzi firms the drive but picks out the man at cover.

23:18 IST:

2.2: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, SIX! Helped away with ease! Angling into the pads, on a back of a length, Tony de Zorzi gets inside the line of the ball and uses the pace. Helps the ball on its way and clears the deep fine leg fence for a six.

23:17 IST:

2.1: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, FOUR! Exquisite! Length delivery, a hint of away shape, outside off, Tony de Zorzi leans into the shot and cracks the drive through the vacant extra cover region for a boundary.

23:16 IST:

1.6: Naseem Shah to Temba Bavuma, FOUR! Lovely shot! Pitched up by Naseem in search of swing, around off, Temba Bavuma lets the ball come to him and just eases himself into the drive. Hits it through covers for a boundary.

23:16 IST:

1.5: Naseem Shah to Temba Bavuma, Swinging away, in the channel on off, on a good length, left alone by Temba.

23:15 IST:

1.4: Naseem Shah to Tony de Zorzi, This climbs onto the batter, on a back of a length, around off, Tony de Zorzi steers it down off the back foot towards deep third for a single.

23:15 IST:

1.3: Naseem Shah to Tony de Zorzi, A lucky escape for Tony de Zorzi! Shah bashes the hard length, nipping back in, on middle and leg, Tony de Zorzi tries to turn it away on the leg side with a closed bat face but closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge that balloons and drops in front of the sliding Naseem Shah in his followthrough.

23:14 IST:

1.2: Naseem Shah to Tony de Zorzi, Short and wide on off, Tony de Zorzi throws his hands at the delivery to go over the infield on the off side. Does not quite get hold of it. Tayyab Tahir gives it a chase and slides to save a couple of runs for his side.

23:13 IST:

1.1: Naseem Shah to Tony de Zorzi, Naseem gets a bit of extra bounce first up, on a back of a length, over off, Tony de Zorzi gets on top of the bounce and pushes it towards point.

23:13 IST:

It will be Naseem Shah to steam in from the other end.

23:11 IST:

0.6: Shaheen Afridi to Temba Bavuma, Pulls the length back and pushes this one across the right-hander, on a back of a length, Temba Bavuma holds his bat high up and leaves the ball alone.

23:11 IST:

0.5: Shaheen Afridi to Temba Bavuma, FOUR! Bavuma is up and running! Full and shaping back in, on middle and leg, Bavuma stays balanced in the crease and brings his wrists into play. Clips it between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary.

23:10 IST:

0.4: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, This tails back in sharply, very full, at the stumps, Tony de Zorzi does well to get his bat down in time and jams it out to the right of mid off for a single.

23:10 IST:

0.3: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Drags the length back and keeps it in the channel on off, Tony de Zorzi tucks his bat inside the line of the ball and sees the ball go through to the keeper.

23:09 IST:

0.2: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Beaten! On the fuller side, outside off, Tony de Zorzi sees the width on offer and fishes at the delivery well away from his body. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

23:09 IST:

0.1: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Gets the ball to angle back in now, on a good length, on off, de Zorzi hangs back to keep it out. 

23:09 IST:

0.1: Shaheen Afridi to Tony de Zorzi, Wide! Starts off on a back of a length, well, outside off, nipping away, Tony de Zorzi lets it go for a wide.

23:08 IST:

All in readiness for the chase to commence. As per the broadcasters, the DLS revised target for South Africa is 308 in 47 overs. It will be the left-hand right-hand combination of Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma to open the innings for the hosts. Shaheen Afridi will kickstart the proceedings with the ball for Pakistan. Two slips in place. Here we go!

23:05 IST:

... THE RUN CHASE ...

22:56 IST:

For a change, we can say the weather is looking good. Now, about the pitch. It is looking a belter but you need to spend some time on it before playing your shifts. Additionally, there is some grip and turn for the spinners and spin has been an achilles heel for South Africa in this series. Maybe, given that this is Jo'burg where chasing is considered the norm, all the hosts might want to do is just check what happened on 12th March, 2006. Might serve as a good inspiration to avoid the whitewash. Please stay tuned for their reply.