Pakistan v South Africa, 2013-14
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, Pakistan vs South Africa, 2013-14
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Apr-2014
At Sharjah, November 11, 2013 (day/night). South Africa won by 117 runs. Toss: South Africa.
An outstanding hundred from de Villiers rounded off South Africa's comprehensive series win. His innings came in two distinct parts: his half-century took 70 balls, but the moment he got there, with a big six, de Villiers raced through the gears. His next 65 would come off only 32 deliveries, a reminder of his frightening range and tempo. He went past 6,000 one-day international runs in 147 innings, second only to Viv Richards (141). South Africa plundered 114 off the last ten overs, as McLaren made yet another handy contribution to punish Junaid Khan's sloppiness at the death. South Africa rested Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, giving Philander only his second one-day cap since 2008, but with Pakistan's batsmen misfiring so much, and the toss proving so crucial throughout the series, it made little difference. Only Sohaib Maqsood, with a second successive fifty, looked remotely comfortable or even interested as the seamers helped themselves.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers. Man of the Series: R. McLaren.
An outstanding hundred from de Villiers rounded off South Africa's comprehensive series win. His innings came in two distinct parts: his half-century took 70 balls, but the moment he got there, with a big six, de Villiers raced through the gears. His next 65 would come off only 32 deliveries, a reminder of his frightening range and tempo. He went past 6,000 one-day international runs in 147 innings, second only to Viv Richards (141). South Africa plundered 114 off the last ten overs, as McLaren made yet another handy contribution to punish Junaid Khan's sloppiness at the death. South Africa rested Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, giving Philander only his second one-day cap since 2008, but with Pakistan's batsmen misfiring so much, and the toss proving so crucial throughout the series, it made little difference. Only Sohaib Maqsood, with a second successive fifty, looked remotely comfortable or even interested as the seamers helped themselves.
Man of the Match: A. B. de Villiers. Man of the Series: R. McLaren.