Pakistan end SA tour with a consolation win in T20
Pakistan finished their tour of South Africa with a 27-run win in the third and final Twenty20 international at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.
The tourists owed their win to the new-ball bowling of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim and leftarm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as they defended a moderate total of 168 for nine. The pair restricted South Africa to 30 for two in the first seven overs and the hosts were always behind the required rate as they limped to 141 for nine in their 20 overs.
South Africa won the series against the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 international team 2-1, adding to a 3-0 success in the Test series and a 3-2 win in ODIs.
“Tonight was disappointing but we’re really chuffed with a series win against the best T20 team in the world,” said South African stand-in captain David Miller. “We’ve beaten them with a young side. There’s a lot of depth in South African cricket.”
“A win is always something that gives you satisfaction,” said Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik.
Left-arm opening bowler Beuran Hendricks took a career-best four for 14 as Pakistan struggled after being sent in. Seven Pakistan batsmen reached double figures but the highest score was 26 by Mohammad Rizwan.
A mid-innings collapse when three wickets fell for five runs in nine balls reduced Pakistan to 94/5, with Rizwan, Malik and Hussain Talat falling in quick succession. Malik was run out for 18 after a mix-up with Talat.
Shadab Khan hit three sixes in the final over from Andile Phehlukwayo to finish with 22* off eight balls. He took two wickets in South Africa’s innings, including Miller, and was named Man-of-the-Match. Miller was the Man-of-the-Series. Brief scores: Pakistan 168/9 in 20 ovs (M Rizwan 26, A Ali 25; B Hendricks 4/14) bt South Africa 141/9 in 20 ovs (C Morris 55, H van der Dussen 41,
M Amir 3/27) by 27 runs.
MULDER IN TEST SQUAD
Batting all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has been included in South Africa’s squad for two Test matches against Sri Lanka, starting in Durban.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn