Super Steyn bowls SA to series victory

Dales’ three-wicket burst deprives Pakistan of win in thriller

abu dhabi — Pakistan were on the verge of pulling off a victory in the fourth one-dayer after a superb halfcentury from debutant Sohaib Maqsood, but Dale Steyn’s explosive 47th over turned the match on its head, handing South Africa a sensational 28-run win and thereby a 3-1 ODI series triumph as well.

With five wickets in hand and two set batsmen at the crease, Pakistan needed only 41 runs from the final five overs, but Steyn took three wickets — Umar Akmal (22), Misbah-ul Haq (65) and Saeed Ajmal (0) — in that over and changed the script in favour of the Proteas.

Pakistan were cruising at one stage when the Maqsood-Misbah duo added 88 runs for the fourth wicket in 15.3 overs. But the dismissal of Maqsood, who smashed six boundaries and two sixes in his entertaining 56 off 54 balls, gave South Africa a chance to bounce back. Steyn finished with his best one-day bowling figures of 5-25 from his 10 overs.

South Africa won the first match by one run in Sharjah and third in Abu Dhabi by 68 runs while Pakistan clinched the second match in Dubai by 66 runs. Sharjah will host the fifth and final match on Monday.

South African captain AB de Villiers was quite excited with the series triumph.

“I thought it was a very solid performance. It was a make or break game for us. We had the opportunity to win the series today (Friday). We arrived here very excited but were a little bit nervous for the prospect of what was lying ahead. The way the boys responded was just magnificent. I am very proud of each and every one of the team members. A series win away from home is never easy, especially not against a worldclass team like Pakistan. So I am very proud of the boys,” de Villiers, who hit a 40-ball 30 on Friday, told reporters after the match.

While talking about Steyn’s decisive three-wicket haul, de Villiers said: “Dale is always an impact player for us. I always want to use him when we feel like we can really make inroads in the Pakistan bat- ting lineup and I thought we both understood that really well tonight and did it at the right time. It paid off for us.”

De Viliers said he was also confident that his team could make a comeback into the match despite facing an assault from Maqsood at one stage.

“I never thought it was getting out of hand but I always felt we were in with a chance. I just had a feeling we need to stay passionate. We spoke about it during the drinks break. We all just felt like we needed a lot of energy and intensity. I always felt that something is going to happen. You always feel like you got a chance in the Pakistan middle-order to get some wickets and we bowled the right guy at the right time. He (Steyn) steamed in for the team with a lot of intensity at the right time.”

De Villiers also hailed young opener Quinton de Kock, who smashed a century in Abu Dhabi.

“We are very, very proud of him. The way he came back after the disappointing series against Sri Lanka just tells a story about his character and obviously his talent. The first time I saw him play, I knew he is a special talent. And for him to come through like that at such an early age just shows that there is a big future. Very proud of the way he played tonight. It was a very matured knock. I don’t know if he even knows that he played a very matured knock tonight but he really set the foundation for us and the guys could bat around him really well. Splendid knock.”