JOHANNESBURG: Babar Azam hit a majestic 90 but Pakistan´s long streak of series wins came to an end in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa took a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a dramatic seven-run win. Pakistan had not lost a T20 series since they were eliminated from the World T20 in India in March 2016.
Pakistan were on track to overhaul South Africa´s 188 for three until Azam was out off the first ball of the 17th over. It started a collapse in which six wickets fell for 34 runs in four overs.
The contrast between the two innings was stark. South Africa started slowly but stand-in captain David Miller plundered an unbeaten 65 off 29 balls as the hosts scored 127 runs off the last ten overs, including 29 off the final over bowled by Usman Shinwari.
Pakistan scored rapidly at the start of their innings, with Azam hitting the first three balls off Beuran Hendricks for four. It was 70 for one at the end of the six-over power play -- 26 runs ahead of South Africa´s total at the same stage.
Azam and Hussain Talat (59) put on 102 off 75 balls for the second wicket.
"We had the game but we couldn´t finish it," said Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik.
The tempo of the game changed when Azam pulled a slower ball from Beuran Hendricks to deep midwicket after hitting 13 fours and a six in a 58-ball innings.
"We didn´t start too well with the ball," said Miller, who was named man of the match. "We were too short and too wide but the bowlers pulled it back."
Although neither took a wicket, Miller praised left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and new fast bowler Lutho Sipamla for economical bowling in the middle overs before the late-innings collapse.
Miller, captaining South Africa for the first time because Faf du Plessis was rested for the last two matches of the series, hit five sixes and four fours in an explosive innings, which followed a similarly aggressive 45 off 27 balls by Rassie van der Dussen, who hit four sixes.
South Africa made a relatively sedate start on an unusually slow, dry Wanderers pitch. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who opened the bowling, took one for nine in four overs. He bowled a maiden to new opening batsman Janneman Malan, who had an otherwise promising innings of 33 off 31 balls.
Left-arm fast bowler Shinwari conceded 63 runs off his four overs.
South Africa win by 7 runs
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End of over 20: Pakistan 181/7
Phehlukwayo to Rizwan, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Hasan Ali, OUT
2 balls to go
Phehlukwayo to Malik, OUT
Phehlukwayo to Hasan Ali, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Malik, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Malik, FOUR
Pakistan need 15 to win off 6 balls
End of over 19: Pakistan 174/5
Morris to Imad, OUT
Morris to Imad, FOUR
Morris to Imad, 2 runs
Morris to Talat, OUT, clean bowled!
Morris to Talat, 2 runs
Morris to Talat, FOUR, fifty up for Talat, his second in international T20 cricket.
End of over 18: Pakistan 162/3
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Malik, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run, wide ball
Phehlukwayo to Asif, OUT
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Talat, FOUR
Phehlukwayo comes back on
End of over 17: Pakistan 153/2
Hendricks to Talat, 1 run
Hendricks to Talat, no run
Hendricks to Asif, OUT, another one goes. Worrying sign for Pakistan? Oh wait, it's a no-ball. Asif survives. And it's a free hit.
Hendricks to Asif, 2 runs
Hendricks to Talat, 1 run
Hendricks to Talat, wide, 1 run
Asif walks in to bat after Babar goes on 90.
Hendricks to Babar Azam, OUT, big wicket for South Africa as Babar falls 10 short of what could have been a well-deserved 100
End of over 16: Pakistan 147/1
Morris to Talat, SIX, finally he is able to connect. That must release some pressure. 100 of the partnership comes up too!
Morris to Talat, no run
Morris to Babar Azam, 1 run
Morris to Talat, 1 run
Morris to Talat, no run
Morris to Talat, no run
End of over 15: Pakistan 168/1
Sipamla to Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1, wide
Sipamla to Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 14: Pakistan 132/1
Dala to Babar Azam, 1 run
Dala to Talat, 1 run
Dala to Talat, no run
Dala to Talat, no run
Dala to Talat, FOUR
Dala to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 13: Pakistan 125/1
Phehlukwayo to Talat, no run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, FOUR
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 2 runs
End of over 12: Pakistan 116/1
Shamsi to Talat, no run
Shamsi to Talat, no run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
Shamsi to Talat, 1 run
Shamsi to Talat, FOUR
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 11: Pakistan 109/1
Sipamla to Talat, no run
Sipamla to Babar, 1 run
Sipamla to Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to Talat, FOUR
End of over 10: Pakistan 101/1
Shamsi to Talat, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, FOUR
Shamsi to Babar Azam, FOUR
Shamsi to Babar Azam, FOUR
Shamsi to Babar Azam,no run
End of over 9: Pakistan 87/1
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, SIX
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, no run, superb work from Miller.
Phehlukwayo to Talat, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, 2 runs, that's brings up half century for Babar Azam.
End of over 8: Pakistan 76/1
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, no run
Shamsi to Talat, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, no run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 7: Pakistan 73/1
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Hussain Talat, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, no run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, no run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 6: Pakistan 70/1
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, no run
Shamsi to Babar Azam, no run
Shamsi to Hussain Talat, 1 run
Shamsi to Hussain Talat, FOUR
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 5: Pakistan 63/1
Dala to Hussain Talat, FOUR
Dala to Hussain Talat, no run
Dala to Hussain Talat, 1 wide
Dala to Babar Azam, 1 run
Dala to Babar Azam, FOUR
Dala to Babar Azam, FOUR
Dala to Babar Azam, FOUR
End of over 4: Pakistan 49/1
BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, OUT
BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR
BE Hendricks to Babar Azam, 1 run
BE Hendricks to Babar Azam, no run
BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR
End of over 3: Pakistan 35/0
Sipamla to Babar Azam, no run
Sipamla to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Fakhar Zaman, 2 runs
Sipamla to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sipamla to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
End of over 2: Pakistan 30/0
Morris to Babar Zaman, 2 runs
Morris to Babar Azam,FOUR
Morris to Babar Azam, FOUR
Morris to Babar Azam, FOUR
Morris to Babar Azam, no run
Morris to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Morris to Fakhar Zaman, wide, 1 run
End of over 1: Pakistan 14/0
Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Hendricks to Babar Azam, 1 run
Hendricks to Babar Azam, no run
Hendricks to Babar Azam, FOUR, stand and deliver.
Hendricks to Babar Azam, FOUR
Hendricks to Babar Azam, FOUR, Babar off the mark.
Hendricks to bowl the first over
Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman in the middle for Pakistan.
Pakistan need 189 to win the match and draw level.
Johannesburg: Stand-in captain South Africa David Miller struck 29-ball 65 to help his team set Pakistan a massive target of 189 in the second Twenty20 on Sunday.
South Africa lead the series 1-0.
Shinwari has bowled the most expansive spell ever for Pakistan. Shinwari has given away 63 runs in his four overs without any wicket to his credit.
End of over 20: South Africa 188/0
Usman Shinwari to Miller, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Miller, SIX, it's a third six of the over.
Usman Shinwari to Miller, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Miller, no run
Usman Shinwari to Miller, SIX. Fifty for skipper, IT's a free hit. Nabll
Usman Shinwari to Miller, 2 runs
Usman Shinwari to Miller, SIX, that's a massive shot!
End of over 19: South Africa 159/3
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, wide, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, wide, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, 1, wide
End of over 18: South African 152/3
Hasan Ali to Miller, SIX
Hasan Ali to Klaasen, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Miller, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Miller, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Miller, 2 runs
Game resumes
Play is set to restart at 4.25pm. According to reports, no over will be lost.
-Match delayed due to rain-
Hasan Ali to Miller, SIX
End of over 17: South Africa 134/3
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 2 runs
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 1 leg bye
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Klaasen, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Miller, 2 wides
Shaheen Shah Afridi to van der Dussen, OUT
End of over 16: South Africa 126/2
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Miller, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Miller, no run
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 1 run
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, SIX
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 2 runs
End of over 15: South Africa 115/2
Usman Shinwari to van der Dussen,1 run
Usman Shinwari to Miller, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Miller, 2 runs
Usman Shinwari to Miller, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Miller, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Miller, no run
End of over 14: South Africa 103/2
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, wide, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Miller, 1 run
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 1 run
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to van der Dussen, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Miller, 1 run
End of over 13: South Africa 93/2
Usman Shinwari to Miller, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Miller, no run
Usman Shinwari to van der Dussen, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Miller, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to van der Dussen, 1 run, close call, It's OUT
Usman Shinwari to van der Dussen, SIX
End of over 12: South Africa 84/1
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, 1 run
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, no run
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, 2 runs
Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run
Shadab Khan to van dur Dussen, 1 run
Shadab Khan to van dur Dussen, SIX
End of over 11: South Africa 73/1
Fakhar Zaman to Hendricks, no run
Fakhar Zaman to van der Dussen, 1 run
Fakhar Zaman to van der Dussen, SIX
Fakhar Zaman to van der Dussen, FOUR, looks like the fielder touched the boundary.
Fakhar Zaman to van der Dussen, no run
Fakhar Zaman to Hendricks, 1 run
End of over 10: South Africa 61/1
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, no run
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, no run
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, 1 run
Shadab Khan to van der Dussen, no run
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, 1 run
End of over 9: South Africa 58/1
Imad Wasim to van der Dussen, no run
Imad Wasim to van der Dussen, no run
van der Dussen walks in to bat
Imad Wasim gets the well-deserved breakthrough for Pakistan.
Imad Wasim to Malan, OUT
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
Imad Wasim to Hendricks, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Malan, 2 runs
End of over 8: South Africa 55/0
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, no run
Shadab Khan to Hendricks, FOUR, flat boundary
Shadab Khan to Malan, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Malan, FOUR, beautiful shot selection.
Shadab Khan to Hendricks , 1 run
End of over 7: South Africa 44/0
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run, a maiden from Imad.
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run, another dot ball
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
Excellent bowling from the spinner.
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
End of over 6: South Africa 44/0
Hasan Ali to Malan, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Malan, no run
Hasan Ali to Hendricks, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Hendricks, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Malan, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Malan, FOUR
End of over 5: South Africa 33/0
Usman Shinwari to Hendricks, no run
Usman Shinwari to Malan, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Malan, no run
Usman Shinwari to Malan, no run
Usman Shinwari to Malan, SIX, second consecutive six.
Usman Shinwari to Malan, SIX, smacked for a six!
End of over 4: South Africa 20/0
Shaheen Shah to Hendricks, FOUR
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Hendricks, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Hendricks, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, FOUR
End of over 3: SA 9/0
Imad Wasim to Hendricks, 2 runs
Imad Wasim to Malan, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run, top stuff from the spinner
Imad Wasim to Malan, no run
Imad Wasim to Hendricks, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Hendricks, no run
End of over 2: SA 5/0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Hendricks, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Malan, 1 wide
End of over 1: South Africa 2/0
Imad Wasim to Malan, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Malan, 1 run
Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run
Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run
Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run,
Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run
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JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl in the second T20 against South Africa at Johannesburg's The Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
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Pakistan fell short of South Africa by a whisker – six runs – in the first Twenty20 International, and will be desperate to hit back in the second game on Sunday (today) and take the series into a decider.
Match will start at 05:30 pm
The South African top order had a good outing in the first T20I. While Gihahn Cloete was dismissed for 13, Reeza Hendricks and Faf du Plessis smashed 74 and 78 respectively to provide a fine base for the middle and lower order to build on in the death.
However, the batsmen who followed could not replicate their heroics – none managed more than 10 – allowing Pakistan to fight back in the death overs and keep their target within sight.
With du Plessis rested for the last two games, a bulk of the responsibility will now fall on the stand-in skipper, David Miller.
South Africa couldn’t really contain the scoring either, with all of Babar Azam, Hussain Talat and Shoaib Malik getting starts.
It’s credit to the home bowlers that they came roaring back, taking wickets regularly to ensure Shoaib Malik had to try and do it all by himself.
David Miller also played a big role. With four catches and two run-outs, he was a livewire in the field and was adjudged Player of the Match.
Pakistan will take heart from their bowlers’ performance in the death overs. They took five quick wickets to stun South Africa’s middle order, and Usman Shinwari, who returned 3-31, will be raring to go again in Johannesburg.
The visitors, however, will be aware of the need for their batsmen to notch a big score. All of Azam, Talat and Malik managed starts, but Pakistan needed someone to go on and get a big score and finish the chase. In tight T20 matches, that is key.
There was good news for Pakistan, with Mohammad Hafeez, ruled out of the first game with a hamstring problem, set to return in Johannesburg.
Malik, the stand-in skipper, might also consider bringing in one of Shaheen Afridi or Mohammad Amir to infuse more pace into the attack.
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