Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets to win T20 series 3-1
CENTURION (92 News) - Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets in the fourth and final Twenty20 and clinch the series 3-1 at the Supersport Park in Centurion on Friday.
South Africa were 109-2 in the 13th over and were all out for 144 by the final over. They suffered a meltdown and lost eight wickets for 35 runs as Pakistan pacers finally came alive in the series, claiming nine wickets, with spinner Mohammad Nawaz taking just one wicket.
Rassie Van de Dussen was the top scorer with 52 runs and Janneman Malan posted 33, but the rest of middle and lower order made no significant contributions.
South Africa set 145-run target for Pakistan in the high stakes final fixture of the four-match T20I series. Pakistan need 145 runs to beat South Africa. South Africa were 109-2 in the 13th over and were all out for 144 by the final over. They suffered a meltdown and lost eight wickets for 35 runs as Pakistan pacers finally came alive in the series, claiming nine wickets, with spinner Mohammad Nawaz taking just one wicket.
Rassie Van de Dussen was the top scorer with 52 runs and Janneman Malan posted 33, but the rest of middle and lower order made no significant contributions.
Earlier, Pakistan have won the toss and decided to field first in the final fixture of the four-match T20I series.
With Pakistan in the lead 2-1 and the series on the line, the best South Africa can do is to avoid a loss and tie the four-match series.
Pakistan win the toss and elect to bowl first!#SAvPAK | #HarHaalMainCricket | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/cQ633dO23o
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 16, 2021
After tasting defeat in the third T20I, South Africa will look to even the scores in the final T20I of the four-match series.
The hosts had a good day with the bat in the last game but sloppy fielding and inconsistency with the ball cost them the game. A maiden T20I ton from Babar Azam and an unbeaten knock of 73 from Mohammad Rizwan guided Pakistan to a record chase.
Pakistan will go in as the favorites in the fourth and final T20I as they carry the winning momentum and positives from all departments. The Pakistani bowlers were able to bounce back strongly at the death that restricted the Proteas as they fell 10-15 runs short on a track where a score of 200 seemed achievable while batting second.
Remember the last time:
The visitors exhibited a formidable approach to the run chase as the openers, Babar (122) and Rizwan (73*) helped Pakistan chase down their highest ever total of 204 in T20Is with two overs to spare.
Despite quick fifties from South Africa openers Janneman Malan (55) and Aiden Markram (63), the hosts found themselves in a losing position as the South African bowlers looked hapless against the onslaught from Babar and Rizwan that resulted in a loss by nine wickets.
What they said:
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): “We are going into the last match of the series with a positive mindset. We will carry the winning momentum and the form to the next match but it is equally important that we rectify the mistakes and win the series.”
Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa captain): “The one thing we are guilty of over the last three games is that not one of our batters that scored a fifty, went on to make a big one. Pakistan has done that really well especially on such wickets to capitalize at the end and we will look to do that.”
Squads
South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (captain, wicketkeeper), Daryn Dupavillon, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Wihan Lubbe, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Migael Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sharjeel Khan, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mahmood
