Proteas edged out in Faisalabad thriller

FAISALABAD had not had any international cricket for 17 years, but Pakistan and the Proteas served up a thriller in the first ODI yesterday.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The hosts ultimately crawled over the line with two wickets and two balls to spare to draw first blood in the three-match series.

Corbin Bosch had four runs to defend in the final over with Pakistan still three wickets in the hut, but lost Mohammad Nawaz with the scores level to increase the drama and intrigue.

But a leg-bye off Bosch's fourth delivery was enough to see Pakistan home.

The series opener was in the balance throughout after the Proteas had set the hosts 264 on a surface that assisted the slower bowlers appreciably.

Both innings were virtually a carbon copy of each other with the Proteas openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (57) and Quinton de Kock (63) putting on 98 for the first wicket before Pakistan duo Fakhar Zaman (45) and Saim Ayub (39) compiled 87 in reply.