As Misbah went down in a sajda, there was a rejuvenated Pakistan huddled in hysteria. We looked like a team out there, capable, young and experienced, proudly playing for their country. It was a moment for a team so capable of self-destruction, beaten comprehensively in UAE that this turn-around truly felt special.
The entire series has been punctuated with drama from start to finish. There were no clinical wins but epic collapses and a battle of the nerves. The beauty of the head-to-head between these two sides was that South Africa were as capable of combusting as Pakistan were, it was just a matter of who caved first. Both teams won in their away series.
Accusations were flung from ball tampering to faulty pitches and defensive captaincy, Misbah and Whatmore were under dire scrutiny, and nothing seemed to click for the men in green. The series felt like a snapshot of images based on whose moment it was on that particular day; there was also a very evident realisation that Pakistan has the uncanny ability of presenting career best figures to the opposing team.
South Africa is placed just one above Pakistan in both the ODI and the T20 rankings. Even a team like the Proteas, with such depth in their batting line up found themselves stumbling and falling on many an occasion. Frailties on both sides were openly exposed and it seems the other men in green have been drinking our potion. At Port Elizabeth, with less than a run a ball needed, AB DE Villiers and Hashim Amla set up a comfortable win for South Africa, until they choked.
Pakistan who has been struggling with their death bowling as of late delivered perfectly. But what changed?
The answer to that question is probably nothing really. There is no silver bullet, it’s the just the inherent unpredictability of sport that a team can click like a well-oiled machine only days after losing their way hopelessly.
The team that landed in South Africa seemed alive, energetic, ready to battle it out and do what it takes to win merely a few days after seemingly resigning themselves to one inevitable defeat after the next. The body language on the field seemed different. Our batsmen built partnerships. Our bowlers had impeccable line and length. Afridi made one break through after another with his spin. Anwar Ali went from pressing socks to becoming a national hero.
With Mohammed Irfan, Shoaib Malik and Abdur Razzaq sent home because of injury, the injection of new talent has definitely give the team a much-needed boost
Ironically, as Misbah seems to have lost his form, the rest of the team seemed to have regained theirs. Many have hailed the induction of Bilawal Bhatti; he is finally giving the opening pacers the support they need in the middle overs. Interestingly, this also looked like a team fighting for their position in the 2015 world cup; each player battling for their spot on the plane to Australia now painfully aware that Misbah shall be their captain for the tournament. The conspiracies of under performance to oust him now put to rest.
After a long hard search and several grueling match ups between these two sides, these 11 men finally came on top and on Saturday have yet another chance to create history and whitewash South Africa on home soil. Only time will tell if Pakistan produced a one hit wonder or if this momentum is here to stay. Why search for answers when Pakistan will as always continue to baffle spectators.