LAHORE-Pakistan cricket team recorded a 4-wicket triumph over South Africa in the third T20I to seal the series 2-1 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night.
Despite the brilliant bowling by Tabraiz Shamsi with his career-best figures of 4-25, Pakistan batsmen proved good enough against the Proteas’ bowlers, especially Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz batted with authority and helped the hosts win the decisive T20I by 4 wickets to seal the series 2-1.
Pakistan started their run-chase well and scored the fifty in the seventh over for the first-wicket partnership. Openers Muhammad Rizwan and Haider Ali were the batsmen, who provided such a good start to the hosts. Tabraiz Shami provided the first breakthrough to the touring side, taking the wicket of Haider Ali at 15 runs. Rizwan and captain Babar Azam then added 22 runs for the second-wicket stand. Shamsi once again provided a breakthrough, this time taking the scalps of in-form batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who was playing at 42 off 30 balls, with the help of 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Pakistan batsmen continued to add important runs in their total while they also kept on losing wickets gradually. Hussain Talat (5) was the third victim of Shamsi while captain Babar gifted his wicket to last match hero Dwaine Pretorius, at his personal score of 44 off 30 balls, which include 5 fours and 1 six. Asif Ali (7) and Faheem Ashraf (10) couldn’t contribute well while Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali then stamped their authority and landed the home safely. Hassan hit the towering six to steer Pakistan to 4-wicket victory.
Earlier, South Africa made a good comeback from 48-six to post 164-8 in 20 overs. David Miller cracked classic 85 off 45 balls, with the help of 5 fours and 7 sixes. The final over of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf proved too expensive for home side, as Miller cracked four towering sixes in the final over of Faheem, who conceded 25 runs in last and expensive over. Zahid Mehmood chipped in with 3-40 while leg spinner Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali claimed two wickets and Usman Qadir got one.
The third T20I victory also helped Pakistan become the first team in international cricket to win 100 (99 and 1 Super Over victory) T20I matches. On the other hand, South Africa slipped to their fourth successive T20I series defeat.
Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani congratulated Pakistan team on victories in the Test and T20I series over South Africa. “I congratulate each and every member of Pakistan team and the support staff for their excellent victories in both the Test and T20Is series over South Africa. The manner in which the side bounced back following a disappointing series in New Zealand is admirable and reflects their real character, grit and potential.”
“The success of the team was due to collective and all-round effort which invariably produces positive and strong results. The performances have elated the fans, which is an endorsement of the type and brand of cricket they want to see and witness from their stars, both inside and outside Pakistan. “I am pleased the side not only demonstrated that they were capable of playing quality cricket but of doing so with consistency, something that had been eluding them recently,” he added.
“Lastly, I want to thank and congratulate South Africa for visiting Pakistan and playing competitive cricket. I am confident they will return with happy memories and will not hesitate in sharing their experiences with fellow cricketers. We look forward to welcoming these cricket ambassadors again, be it during the HBL Pakistan Super League or a future bilateral series.”
Scorecard
SOUTH AFRICA:
Janneman Malan lbw b Zahid 27
Reeza Hendricks b M Nawaz 2
JJ Smuts c Babar Azam b Nawaz 1
Pite van Biljon b Hasan Ali 16
H Klaasen c Usman b Zahid 0
David Miller not out 85
A Phehlukwayo c Asif b Usman 0
Dwaine Pretorius b Zahid Mahmood 9
Bjorn Fortuin b Hasan Ali 10
Lutho Sipamla not out 8
EXTRAS: (lb4, w2) 6
TOTAL: (8 wkts, 20 overs) 164
FOW: 1-10, 2-24, 3-41, 4-46, 5-46, 6-48, 7-65, 8-106.
BOWLING: Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-28-0, M Nawaz 2-0-13-2, Faheem Ashraf 3-0-38-0, Hasan Ali 4-0-29-2, Zahid Mahmood 4-0-40-3, Usman Qadir 3-0-12-1.
PAKISTAN:
M Rizwan lbw b Shamsi 42
Haider Ali b Shamsi 15
Babar Azam b Pretorius 44
Hussain Talat b Shamsi 5
Asif Ali c Miller b Shamsi 7
Faheem Ashraf c Miller b Fortuin 10
Mohammad Nawaz not out 18
Hasan Ali not out 20
EXTRAS: (b1, nb1, w6) 8
TOTAL: (6 wkts, 18.4 overs) 169
FOW: 1-51, 2-73, 3-84, 4-112, 5-117, 6-137.
BOWLING: Bjorn Fortuin 4-0-30-1, Dwaine Pretorius 3-0-33-1, JJ Smuts 3-0-20-0, Andile Phehlukwayo 2.4-0-37-0, Lutho Sipamla 2-0-23-0, Tabraiz Shamsi 4-0-25-4.
TOSS: Pakistan
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar, Rashid Riaz
TV UMPIRE: Ahsan Raza
MATCH REFEREE: M Javed
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