With a 117-run victory yesterday, the Proteas sealed the five-match Pakistan v South Africa ODI series by a tally of 4-1.
While Pakistan was able to put up some big individual run-totals, they were never really able to coalesce as a team, and South Africa's steady batting combined with a vicious bowling attack made it a mismatched affair, so much so that Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq to declare he was 'worried' about his side following the series.
With two more Twenty20 matches set between the sides for next week, Paul Radley takes a look at the five defining moments of the UAE-hosted ODIs.
1. Parnell punishes Pakistan: Wayne Parnell knew he had some sizeable boots to fill in the absence of the world's best in the opening game at Sharjah. Dale Steyn was given the start of this series off by the Proteas — but initially it was the world's best batsman, Hashim Amla, who Parnell covered for. The left-hander struck an easy paced half-century to set the platform for a tense one-run win, then took three wickets, too.
2. Misbah toss shock: Misbah-ul-Haq always looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Given he captains the world's most issues-rich cricket team, it must feel like it, too. To exacerbate the idea he is a poor, put-upon soul, he rarely ever wins a toss. The coin landed in his favour for the only time in the series in the second game, in Dubai. Pakistan won.
3. Tahir's turn: Imran Tahir arrived in the UAE with his South Africa career in the balance. He will leave as a key part of both the Test and 50-over sides thanks to his success with the ball here. The Pakistan-born leg-spinner was the star turn in deciding the second, series-halving Test in the Proteas' favour. Then he took four wickets in the 68-run win in the first of the Abu Dhabi one-day internationals.
4. Quinton's fortune: If Parnell had a tough assignment replacing Steyn, then Quinton de Kock hardly had it much easier after being granted an opening berth midway through the series. The young left-hander was giving away around 300 games worth of international experience to his forebear when he came in to replace the injured Graeme Smith. Still, he did not seem fazed, racking up 112 in a series-clinching win.
5. AB sees the way forward: A meagre crowd showed up to see last night's dead rubber. The absent hordes missed a gem of a century by AB de Villiers. South Africa's captain, relieved of the wicket-keeping duties since De Kock's arrival in the side, hit a sweetly paced 115 in 102 deliveries. Given the fact chasing totals has been all but impossible in this series, South Africa's total of 268 was always going to be plenty.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
