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

2. Pakistan vs South Africa in Sharjah, 2013

South Africa got off to a mixed start in their UAE tour in 2013 as they drew the 2-match Test series 1-1. It was followed by a 5-match ODI series to which the South Africans didn’t mark best of the starts with the bat. In the first ODI at the Sharjah stadium, the visitors were 86/6 by 27th over but managed to reach 183 thanks to a fifty from Wayne Parnell (56 off 70). Ahmed Shehzad’s 58 put Pakistan in a strong position as he shared key partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez (28) and Misbah-ul-Haq (31).

Pakistan stood 19 runs away from the win in the 41st over with six wickets in hand. Umar Amin (20) and Umar Akmal (18) were dismissed in successive overs on the same score giving an opening to South Africa to step back into the game. In the very next over, Sohail Tanvir was caught behind with 10 runs still to be scored. An over later, it was Shahid Afridi’s turn to do something foolish as he was holed to deep midwicket in Imran Tahir’s bowling.

In the same over, Wahab Riaz was trapped in front by the leg-spinner without scoring. Pakistan was left with only a wicket in hand but had to score 7 more runs in 6.1 overs. The last pair of Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Irfan showed no urgency as they added 5 runs in 15 balls. Morne Morkel finally got one to go through Irfan’s defence as the Proteas held on to a 1-run win. Pakistan went on to win the 2nd ODI but South Africa won the remaining three games to clinch the ODI series by 4-1 margin.