Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman was run out controversially by Aiden Markram after smashing the highest individual score (193) while chasing mammoth 342 against South Africa in the second ODI of the ongoing three-match ODI series on Sunday (April 4) in Johannesburg.
Zaman's valiant 193-run knock off 155 balls ended on the first ball of the final over on Sunday, as a direct hit from Markram from long-off caught him short of his crease, as Pakistan fell 17 runs short of the target against South Africa in the second ODI with the hosts leveling the three-match series 1-1.
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With Pakistan needed 31 off the last 6 balls to win the game, though they almost lost the game, the 30-year-old could notch up his maiden double ODI ton, but Quinton de Kock’s actions deemed as a ‘fake fielding’ has cost him a well-deserved double-ton in the second ODI in Johannesburg.
Following the loss, Zaman has insisted that he doesn’t regret missing the double ton, has regret of not being able to take Pakistan over the line in the second ODI, as if they could have won the game, they would have won the ODI series against South Africa on Sunday.
Now the winner will be decided on Wednesday (April 7) when the two teams met in the series decider in Centurion.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Zaman said after the game: “I don't regret not getting double, I regret losing the match. If we had won this it would've been amazing so my regret is about that. The situation was such that I was only focusing on getting the win, not the double. I couldn't finish it but I'd take scoring fewer runs than this and winning the game.”
The left-hander continued, “Yes, to be honest, I thought we could win it even then, I think around the 25th over I just called Sarfaraz Ahmed, he knows my game, I talked to him and said ask Babar can I start playing my natural game because Shamsi was bowling with small boundaries. At that time I was feeling that if I start hitting then I could win the game for Pakistan.”
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Zaman played a fighting knock and took Pakistan’s score past the 300-run mark despite not having any support from the other end in the second ODI. He had asked his teammates don't get out but they couldn’t serve more than 30 balls and the tourists eventually suffered a narrow defeat.
He further explained, “When wickets were falling and we were 200 for 7, I was just telling the others coming in to stick around. Don't get out. Don't worry about the runs, don't get out. The wickets here, you can't stop runs on so I was just telling them to stick around with me, don't get out.”
The 30-year-old signed off by saying, “If you're the first batsman, or the number 11, the first 10-15 runs are very difficult on these pitches. On Asian wickets, it isn't like that but here it is. Unluckily not many of our top order got through 20-25 balls.
Until you get through that start here, you don't get runs. Babar got a little set but others didn't so people got out quickly. Had anyone gotten set, it would've become easier but unfortunately, it just didn't happen.”
(With ANI Inputs)
