Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen highlighted a remarkable batting display to ensure that the Proteas toppled Pakistan and levelled the series 1-1 in aggressive fashion at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday.

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Restricting Pakistan to just 140/9, South Africa needed 141 to win and they beat the visitors by six wickets at the conclusion of their chase.

SA got off to a flying start – thanks to the exploits of Markram and Janneman Malan – having been on 38-0 after four overs, compared to Pakistan’s 17-1 at the same point in their innings.

However, the pair’s 44-run opening stand was halted in the fifth over when the latter mistimed a flick shot to get caught at square-leg for 15.

Wihan Lubbe then came in; hit three 4s, before being timely caught at mid-off after playing a haphazard shot.

Markram scored a swift 30-ball 54, which included seven 4s and three 6s, before attempting to hit another maximum, but with his shot getting too much height he got caught on the boundary at long-on. 

The home side looked to stagger slightly when Pite van Biljon got caught behind for just two in the following over after attempting a sweep shot.

But that did little to rattle the side. After amassing 92 runs at the halfway mark, while needing just 49 to win, the Proteas were never going to lose it from there.

Klaasen and George Linde were given the reins at the crease and they made no hassle of closing in on their target.

The pair batted superbly in tandem, putting on a blistering 49-run partnership off 23 balls, with Klaasen contributing 29 and Linde 20.

The two steered the Proteas home, with Klaasen scoring 36* and Linde 20*, as SA reached their target with a whole six overs to spare.

Linde was the Man of the Match for his three catches, three wickets and his 20 not out.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix