Pakistan clinch T20 series against South Africa with four-wicket victory in final

Green Shirts successfully chase 165-run target set by Proteas with four wickets and eight balls remaining

By Web Desk
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February 15, 2021
Pakistan's Zahid Mehmood (L) celebrates with captain Babar Azam (C) and teammate Mohammad Rizwan after taking the wicket of South Africa's Dwaine Pretorius (not pictured) during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on February 14, 2021. — AFP/Aamir Qureshi

Pakistan clinched the Twenty20 series against South Africa after winning the third and final match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

South Africa handed Pakistan a 165-run target, which the Green Shirts managed to hit with four wickets and eight balls remaining.

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Pakistan won the first match by three runs while South Africa took the second by six wickets, both also in Lahore.

Pakistan innings

Babar Azam (44) and Mohammad Rizwan (42) anchored the team with their solid performances.

Hasan Ali (20), Mohammad Nawaz (18), Haider Ali (15), Faheem Ashraf (10) also lent a hand.

South African bowler Tabraiz Shamsi tried throughout to dismantle the side, managing in the effort to grab four wickets.

Bjorn Fortuin and Dwaine Pretorius grabbed one each of the only two other wickets the visitors were able to get.

South Africa innings

South Africa set the score at a loss of eight wickets. The side's top scorers were David Miller (85 not out) and Janneman Malan (27).

From the Pakistan side, debutant Zahid Mahmood emerged as the top wicket-taker with a haul of three. Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali took two each and Usman Qadir took one.

Toss

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Teams

With the series locked at one-all, Pakistan brought in leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood for his international debut.

Also included were batsman Asif Ali and medium pacer Hasan Ali. The trio replaced Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed and Haris Rauf.

South Africa brought back Bjorn Fortuin for Glenton Stuurman.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Haider Ali, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mahmood

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Pite van Biljon, Bjorn Fortuin, Jon-Jon Smuts

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