Lahore (Web Desk): South Africa were restricted to a modest total of 139 for nine in their innings, setting Pakistan a 140-run target in the third and final T20 International played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan’s bowlers produced a cohesive and disciplined display to keep the visitors from gaining momentum throughout the match.
The decision by Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to bowl first turned out to be the right call, as his side’s attack dismantled South Africa’s batting lineup early on.
The tourists made a shaky start, losing Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for ducks to a fiery new-ball spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who marked his return with a stunning double strike.
After the early collapse, Dewald Brevis and Reeza Hendricks attempted to rebuild the innings with a careful 38-run stand. Brevis, however, became the first T20I victim of debutant Usman Tariq in the eighth over, having scored 21 from 22 balls, including two towering sixes.
The pressure mounted in the very next over when Mohammad Nawaz bowled Matthew Breetzke for just one, leaving the Proteas in deep trouble at 42 for four.
Their captain Donovan Ferreira tried to counterattack, smashing three sixes and a boundary in a quickfire 29 off 14 deliveries, but Faheem Ashraf dismissed him before removing George Linde for a duck on the next ball, leaving South Africa struggling at 76 for six in the 12th over.
Meanwhile, Reeza Hendricks kept one end steady despite wickets tumbling around him, contributing 34 runs off 36 balls with two fours before he, too, was dismissed by debutant Tariq in the 15th over.
Toward the closing stages, Corbin Bosch remained unbeaten with a solid 30 from 23 balls, guiding South Africa past the 130 mark. He shared a brief 23-run stand with Andile Simelane, who added 13 from 10 deliveries.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi was the standout performer, claiming three wickets for 26 runs in his four-over spell. Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq took two wickets each, while Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Mirza added one apiece as the hosts kept South Africa to a below-par total.
Teams
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira(c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams and Ottneil Baartman.