A visibly tired Rassie van der Dussen pushed his limits and pulled off a stunning last-over win for South Africa in their warm-up game against Pakistan. South Africa needed 19 to win in the last over, bowled by Hasan Ali, and van der Dussen started the over off with a six, before returning to strike and hitting the last two balls for four to seal a win as well as complete a 51-ball century. At the other end was David Miller, who also hit a six in the last over as Hasan conceded 22.

van der Dussen was in as early as the third over, when Imad Wasim dismissed both openers and the chase looked tall. But on a good batting surface, he kept South Africa’s scoring rate healthy as he put together a 107-run stand for the third wicket with captain Temba Bavuma, who struggled for rhythm during a 42-ball 46. But that partnership came only off 12 overs, despite Pakistan managing to bowl plenty of dot balls in the middle overs. That was down to van der Dussen’s ability to find and clear the boundaries at regular intervals – in all, he hit ten fours and four sixes – and that eventually left South Africa enough wickets to go big at the end. They needed 74 from the last six overs, and Heinrich Klaasen played a part with an eight-ball 14 from No. 5.

Pakistan had the upper hand, with South Africa needing 47 off the last three, but 18 and 22-run overs on either side of Shaheen Afridi‘s ten-run 19th over proved costly.

Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss, South Africa opened the bowling with Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, who kept the scoring down in the powerplay. Rabada managed to get Babar Azam cheaply with a yorker, while Anrich Nortje closed the powerplay off with Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket.

But that was the only phase of the bowling innings that South Africa would manage to control, as Fakhar Zaman showed off the six-hitting ability that lifted him from the reserves into the main squad last week. Fakhar hit five sixes and two fours on his way to 52 off 28 balls before retiring out as Pakistan managed to score 120 off their last ten overs.

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik batted at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively, with the former scrapping through a 14-ball 13, while the latter got deep in the innings before falling for 28 off 28 balls. It was Asif Ali, however, who turned the course at the end of the innings with a belligerent 32 off 18 from No. 6.

In all, Pakistan managed to hit 11 sixes as South Africa produced an average bowling display with the exception of Maharaj, Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Tabraiz Shamsi bowled only four balls before sitting out the remainder of the match as a precaution due to a tight groin. South Africa’s medical staff said he would be assessed overnight and steps will be taken as required.