Twitter Reactions: South Africa humble Pakistan in Johannesburg to register clean sweep

A target of 381 was always going to be a tough ask for Pakistan, batting in the fourth innings of the third Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. However, their top order came out with a determined approach and didn’t let the South Africa bowlers dictate terms. In the end, the hosts didn’t have much trouble in bowling Pakistan out and comprehensively won the encounter by 107 runs to register a whitewash.

Shafiq plays a lone hand

With 228 runs required and seven wickets in hand, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Co might have fathomed the improbable- chasing the target down. Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq started proceedings with the overnight score of 153. Shafiq accomplished his half-century at a run-ball, but Azam could only add four runs to his score and fell prey to Duanne Olivier after scoring a promising 21 runs with five boundaries.

Olivier cleaned up skipper Sarfraz in the very next ball to send half the Pakistan batting lineup to the hut. The home team was all over the hapless visitors and it seemed as if the writing was already on the walls for Pakistan. A few overs later, Vernon Philander inflicted the body blow when the speedster accounted for the prized wicket of Shafiq, who fought a lone battle with 65 runs from 71 deliveries with 11 fours.

South Africa romp home

In the meantime, Sarfraz’s men slumped from 162 for three to 179 for six in a space of approximately five overs. Faheem Ashraf flung his willow to score 15 from 19 balls, but right-arm fast bowler Kagiso Rabada removed him, caught by Aiden Markram it the gully region. In his next over, Rabada picked up his second wicket of Mohammad Amir, who could only resist for five balls, hitting one boundary.

Thereafter, Shadab Khan, who earlier replaced Yasir Shah, put his head down and staved off the Proteas’ bowling without much fuss. With him was Hasan Ali, who was in no mood to die wondering. He scored a quick-fire 22 from 14 balls before Rabada got rid of him. The match came to a close with Mohammad Abbas’ run-out. Shadab Khan impressed with the bat, having remained not out on 47 from 66 balls.

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