Lahore-South Africa made a good comeback in the series with a 6-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20I here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday and set up a decider to be played at the same venue today (Sunday).
Brilliant bowling by Shaheen Shah Afridi made the South African run-chase a bit difficult as he first dismissed Janneman Malan for just 4 runs and then took the important wicket of JJ Smuts for just 7 runs. But the third-wicket 77-run partnership between Reeza Hendricks (42) and Pite van Biljon (42) made the difference and helped the visitors chase the target quite comfortably. Their partnership left the touring side requiring just 47 runs off 53 balls.
Hendricks, who also played well in the first T20I with a contribution of fifty in a losing cause, once again play a brilliant knock of 30-ball 42 runs, laced with three boundaries and three sixes. He was caught on the long-on fence by Ahmed off Usman Qadir (1-43). Van Biljon fell shortly thereafter, popping a ball from Mohammad Nawaz (1-27) straight back to the bowler after being given a life on 24 by Qaadir, who was stumped off a no-ball.
Experienced David Miller and captain Heinrich Klaasen then safely landed their side to home in 16.2 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.
Miller striking two fours and a six off 19 balls in his unbeaten knock while captain Heinrich Klaasen struck three boundaries off nine balls in his unbeaten 17 runs as the pair helped South Africa reach 145 for four with 22 balls remaining in the innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 2-18 for Pakistan while Muhammad Nawaz and Usman Qadir took one wicket each. Dwaine Pretorius emerged as player of the match.
Earlier, South Africa’s Pretorius produced career-best figures of 5-17 to help his side restrict Pakistan to 144-7. With these figures (5-17), Pretorius beat Ryan McLaren’s 5-19 after Heinrich Klaasen had decuded decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Pretorius’ efforts were also the best on Pakistan soil and the best against Pakistan, beating Tim Southee’s 5-18 in Auckland.
Pretorius first took the early wicket of captain Babar Azam (5), and then had Iftikhar Ahmed brilliantly caught by David Miller at deep mid-wicket for 20 in his second over. He then took the scalp of Khushdil Shah (15), edged behind to Klaasen before claiming the wicket of the in-from Mohammad Rizawan (51) and Mohammad Nawaz, clean-bowled in his final over.
Rizwan, who had scored a match-winning unbeaten 104 in the first T20, struck six boundaries and a six from 41 balls but the pressure created by Tabraiz Shamsi (1-16) and Jon-Jon Smuts (0-20) allowed Pretorius to pick up the wicket of the right-handed opening batsman. Andile Phehlukwayo got Haider Ali (10) wicket to leave the hosts on 36-2 but his final overs were dispatched with by Faheem Ashraf (30 not out) as the all-rounder ended with 1-31 in three overs. Faheem’s knock included two fours and two sixes which allowed Pakistan to reach 144-7.
Scorecard
PAKISTAN:
Rizwan Phehlukwayo b Pretorius 51
Babar Azam lbw b Pretorius 5
Haider Ali c Sipamla b Phehlukwayo 10
Hussain Talat c van Biljon b Shamsi 3
Iftikhar Ahmed c Miller b Pretorius 20
Khushdil Shah c Klaasen b Pretorius 15
Faheem Ashraf not out 30
Mohammad Nawaz b Pretorius 0
Usman Qadir not out 4
EXTRAS: (lb 3, w 3) 6
TOTAL: (7 wkts, 20 overs) 144
FOW: 1-10, 2-36, 3-48, 4-93, 5-97, 6-126, 7-126.
BOWLING: JJ Smuts 4-0-20-0, Dwaine Pretorius 4-0-17-5, Glenton Stuurman 2-0-28-0, Lutho Sipamla 3-0-29-0, Andile Phehlukwayo 3-0-31-1, Tabraiz Shamsi 4-0-16-1.
SOUTH AFRICA:
Janneman Malan b Shaheen Afridi 4
R Hendricks c Iftikhar b Usman Qadir 42
JJ Smuts c Babar b Shaheen Afridi 7
Pite van Biljon c & b M Nawaz 42
David Miller not out 25
Heinrich Klaasen not out 17
EXTRAS: (nb2, w6) 8
TOTAL: (4 wkts, 16.2 overs) 145
FOW: 1-4, 2-21, 3-98, 4-105.
BOWLING: Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-1-18-2, Haris Rauf 2-0-26-0, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-27-1, Faheem Ashraf 2-0-17-0, Usman Qadir 4-0-43-1, Iftikhar Ahmed 1.2-0-14-0.
TOSS: South Africa
UMPIRES: Asif Yaqoob, Shozab Raza
TV UMPIRE: Ahsan Raza
MATCH REFEREE: Muhammad Javed
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