Pakistan, which lost the opening one-dayer and both Twenty20 matches against South Africa, was staring at another defeat when Razzaq belted 10 sixes and seven boundaries for a 72-ball innings of 109.
Razzaq scored 63 of the last 65 runs and hit the final boundary as Pakistan overhauled South Africa’s score of 286 with one ball and one wicket to spare.
”This is one of my best innings ever and I am so happy that it came at a time when Pakistan cricket is going through so much troubles,” said Razzaq, who was named Man of the Match. ”I have been under tremendous pressure like many others in the team and I hope those criticizing us will realize that we are all playing for the country.
”I just wanted to stay till the end and I was just hoping that I do not mis-hit during the final overs as I was the only batsman left.”
Skipper Shahid Afridi, who had had a poor run in the three matches of the tour so far, finally found some form. Coming in at 70-4, Afridi started off on an aggressive note but after hitting three fours and two huge sixes, he got out to a rash stroke for 49.
After Afridi left, Fawad Alam was joined by Razzaq, the latter in pursuit of his first ODI half century in four years. Together they put 81 runs in just 75 balls to keep the Pakistan supporters interested before Alam scooped a catch to Albie Morkel to give Charl Langeveldt his 100th ODI wicket.
After that, Razzaq took over and not only reached his half century, the first since 2006, but went on to convert it into a match-winning century.
Earlier in the match, South Africa put up a healthy score of 286-8 after winning the toss and electing to bat. A superb century by Colin Ingram and half centuries by Hashim Amla and J.P Duminy steered them to that challenging total.
Ingram scored exactly 100, his second century in five ODIs since making his debut in the recent home series against Zimbabwe, while Amla and Duminy scored 65 and 54 respectively.
Ingram’s 100 came off 119 balls as the left-hander was at ease against both spin and pace. He scored 10 boundaries and one six and starred in two useful partnerships, an 84-run stand with Amla for the second wicket and another 86 runs for the third wicket with AB de Villiers.
Amla slammed eight fours in his 65-run knock off 62 balls while towards the end, Duminy’s 54, studded with three fours and a six, piled the misery on the Pakistan bowlers.
For Pakistan, skipper Afridi and Wahab Riaz, the young left arm fast bowler who replaced Umar Gul, took two wickets each.
Graeme Smith, who did not play, said he was disappointed that a great innings from Ingram and the rest of the batting displays went in vain.
”We dominated through the 50 overs of batting and also through the 34 overs of bowling,” Smith said. ”It was only in the last 16 overs that Razzaq took the game away from us. You can’t do anything when someone like Razzaq hits the ball so cleanly and so often.
”There have been a few positives and we will also work out a plan, especially the bowling at the death.”
Smith, who is nursing a finger injury which he suffered when a Shoaib Akhtar ball hit him in Friday’s first ODI, and Jacques Kallis, who is still recovering from a viral infection, both sat out the match. Robin Peterson and Albe Morkel came into the lineuip, with Johan Botha standing in as captain.
The ODI series now moves to Dubai where the remaining three ODIs and the first test will be played. The two teams meet in the third ODI on Tuesday.
Pakistan will play two Twenty20 internationals against Australia on July 5 and 6 before playing two Tests against the same opponents.
After playing Australia, Pakistan will feature in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games against England. The tour ends on September 22.
The squad for the one-dayers against England will be announced later.
The notable inclusion in the test side is that of Yasir Hameed brought in to replace former captain Younis Khan.
The 32-year-old Hameed has played 23 tests, but his last came against India in Dec. 2007.
The selectors opted against bringing the experienced Younis back into the squad for the twin test series, even though the Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this month lifted his indefinite ban.
Squad: (Twenty20): Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam
Squad: (Tests): Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Tanveer Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria
Pietersen made his first appearance in two years in last Sunday's Friends Provident t20 win over Surrey.
That was only his 11th Hampshire game in the last four years and his current Rose Bowl contract is due to expire.
"It's just a geographical issue," said his agent Adam Wheatley. "He and his family are in London, and the county is 90 minutes down the road."
"I have not had much opportunity to play for Hampshire but I want to thank the players, staff, chairman and fans, for the support I have had during my time at The Rose Bowl," said Pietersen, in a statement issued by his county.
But he has been a centrally contracted England player for most of his time with Hampshire and, since making his Test debut in July 2005, he has made just one Championship appearance.
When asked after the game last Sunday evening, if he would like to feature more for his county, Pietersen told BBC Radio Solent: "Geographically, it just doesn't work. I live in Chelsea."
That would appear to indicate Pietersen's preference for one of the two London counties, Surrey or Middlesex. But Wheatley insists: "There have been no approaches at all.
"It's certainly not Kevin's intention to be a freelance cricketer as he would still be required to play for a county.
"I think now we've given notice to Hampshire, things may start to happened if there is some interest."
"Technically speaking," said an ECB spokesman, "a player doesn't have to be registered with a county to be eligible for England.
"But, practically, it's in the best interest of the player and the England management that he is registered with a county.
"This is so the option exists for that player to go back to his county and play cricket when required, eg in between international series."
Pietersen will be back at The Rose Bowl next week, but only for England's one-day international series opener against Australia (22 June).
Hampshire chairman of cricket Rod Bransgrove added: "Given England's critical dependence on KP in all forms of cricket, we have not seen anything like as much of him as we would have liked over the past six years.
"He remains, however, a fantastic player and we wish him continued success wherever he plays."
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