5 Biggest ODI chokes while chasing a target in the 21st century

3. South Africa vs Pakistan in Port Elizabeth, 2013

Pakistan were 1-0 up during the 3-match ODI series in South Africa during November 2013. The two sides clashed at the St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth with the hosts being in a do-or-die situation. A delayed start reduced the game to 45 overs each. Ahmed Shehzad stepped up for the visitors with a 112-ball 102 as Pakistan were bowled out for 262 in the restricted overs. The required rate at the start of the chase was close to 6 runs but South Africa was going around 4.5 runs an over until the 26th over.

Quinton de Kock scored a 52-ball 47 but Hashim Amla scored only 57 off 83 balls when he was accompanied by AB de Villiers who came to bat at No.5 position. South Africa, at a stage, needed 99 from 66 balls. But from there on, the hosts yielded 64 runs in the next 27 balls as De Villiers alone scored 44 off 18 balls in that period. He fell after scoring a quick 74 from 45 balls leaving the Proteas to chase 36 from 38 balls. Things became easy for the hosts after ABD’s blitz who were needing only 11 runs from last two overs.

Saeed Ajmal bowled the penultimate over and conceded only two runs on the first three balls. The next three didn’t fetch a run as Hashim Amla failed to find the gap on back to back deliveries before miscuing one to the deep fielder when on 98. JP Duminy was dismissed on the 2nd ball of the final over bowled by Junaid Khan. The left-arm pacer let the home team score only two runs in the next 3 balls. He wrapped the game conceding 4 leg-byes when six runs were needed as South Africa lost the game by one run and also lost the ODI series.