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Afridi lauds 'team man' Razzaq

Image: Razzaq: hammered 10 sixes

Abdul Razzaq's match-winning century earned the praise of both skippers after Pakistan beat South Africa by one wicket.

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Pakistan all-rounder scripts unlikely triumph

Shahid Afridi was surprised but delighted by the manner of Pakistan's one-wicket victory over South Africa in Abu Dhabi. Abdul Razzaq smashed a whirlwind century to complete Pakistan's chase of a 287 victory target with one ball to spare. The all-rounder came to the crease with his side reeling at 136-5 and blasted 10 sixes and seven fours in an unbeaten 109 from 72 balls to square the series at 1-1. "The day before yesterday I said we would bounce back, but I had never imagined it would come this way," said Afridi. "He always performs well in tough situations and we know he's a team man."

Rescue act

The rescue act came after Afridi himself made 49 and Fawad Alam managed 48 - both good innings, but their failure to kick on threatened another defeat. "My batting was still not 100 percent but better than before," added Afridi. "We are feeling better now as a team. We have areas to improve on, but we will try our best in the coming games." Razzaq, who remarkably scored 63 of the last 65 runs, described his knock as one he will "never forget", saying the main thing, though, was that they won. "The best part of the innings is that we won," he said. "It will boost our morale because we haven't been winning of late."
Worthy winners
For South Africa, Colin Ingram made 100 and had good support from Hashim Amla (65) and JP Duminy (54), but captain Johan Botha paid tribute to Razzaq after his side's 10-match winning run in the 50-over format came to an end. "I can't really say much, but you play an innings like that then you deserve to win the game," said Botha, who was filling in for the injured Graeme Smith. "We batted really well again, but Razzaq and Pakistan really deserved it today. "He hit the ball cleanly and if you missed your length, and he made you pay. "It's never nice to lose, but rather here than in a World Cup."

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