Outstanding bowling performance from Hassan Ali takes Pakistan across the line by 95 runs, sweeps SA by 2-0

Pakistan beat South Africa by 95 runs in a thrilling second Test at Rawalpindi with Hassan Ali’s career-best bowling performance of 10-114, sweeping the series by 2-0.

Pakistan medium pacer, Hassan Ali picks up a 5 wicket haul to help Pakistan win the series by 95 runs after 18 years on day 5 at Rawalpindi on Monday. Hassan Ali finished on 5-60 to match his career-best figures of 11-114 to outclass South Africa on 274 before the tea break, who were set to chase 370. 

Hassan Ali’s fellow pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi managed to get 4-51 while Yasir Shah took the final wicket to spark the joys among Pakistan players.

South African opener, Aiden Markram took the fight for his team on day 4 and kept the struggle going on for day 5 with his 108 and Temba Bavuma scored 61 runs to keep the hopes alive. They put in a 106 runs stand for the fourth wicket to give Pakistan a scare.

Aiden Markram picked up a single before lunch to take South Africa on 219-3, requiring only 151 runs to win with 7 wickets in hand.

But then came Hassan Ali, who ripped the South African batting order, which lost 7 quick wickets for just 33 runs after the second new ball became available.

Hassan Ali struck in the second over of the new ball to end the 335-minute resistance from Markram after he got caught in the slip position.

Markram scored 5 Test centuries in his career, first outside South Africa including 13 boundaries and three sixes.

On the very next ball, Hassan Ali took Quinton De Kock who was caught in the slip-on duck, ending the miserable innings from the South African skipper on just 46 runs.

Historic Test series win 

Hassan Ali dismissed George Linde on 4 to complete his third five-wicket haul in Test to improve his previous best match figures of 7-83 against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in 2018.

At the start of the play, both teams were impressive to watch as they started a keen battle as South Africa continued day 5 play on 127-1, knowing that the best chase in Rawalpindi was 200, scored by Sri Lanka in 2000.

Dussen bowled at the start of the day, Hassan Ali ripped off his stumps on the third ball of the day while Faf Du Plessis ended his last innings in the same disappointment as he managed only 55 runs in the four innings.

Pakistan won only their second Test series against South Africa in 12 attempts, having lost eight and drawn three.

Pakistan last beat South Africa in 2003 by 1-0 in a two-match Test series, won the first Test series at Karachi by seven wickets.

The series against South Africa was the biggest host for Pakistan since 2009 when Sri Lanka visited Pakistan. South Africa came after 14 years of huge gaps.

The series win lifts Pakistan in top 5 in ICC International Test Cricket rankings, the first time they have reached the mark since January 2017.

South Africa has gone to sixth place after the series loss.

The two teams will now face each other in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore for three T20I’s, starting from February 11, 13 and 14.