- Becomes the first men’s team to win 100 T20Is
- Mohammad Nawaz bags player of the match award; Rizwan’s epic batting form gets him player of the series award
Lahore, 14 February 2021: Pakistan maintained an impeccable home record for the 2020-21 season with a four-wicket win over South Africa in the third and final T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, which sealed the series win for the hosts.
Pakistan, who came into this match after suffering a six-wicket defeat yesterday, chased down 165 with eight balls spare and recorded their second bilateral series win in the format.
With this win, Pakistan became the first team to win 100 T20Is.
The run-chase was anchored by Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam who made the scores of 42 and 44.
Pakistan were provided a solid start with a 51-run opening stand between Rizwan, smashed five fours and two sixes in his 30-ball knock, and Haider Ali, who made 15 off 13 after being promoted up the order.
Their stand was broken on the first ball after powerplay when Tabriaz Shamsi castled Haider with a beautiful leg-break. His next victim was Rizwan, who, once again, played his shots with authority before he was trapped LBW on the last ball of the ninth over.
Rizwan’s 42 followed a whirlwind century in the first T20I and outstanding half-century in the second and, as such, he was rewarded with player of the series award.
Shamsi’s delivery thudded stumps for the second time in the match during the 11th over as the left-arm orthodox cleaned up Hussain Talat (five off six).
While Rizwan and Hussain fell from the other end, Babar, who has scored the most runs for any batsman in T20Is since his debut in 2016, ensured that the runs keep coming for Pakistan.
He smashed back-to-back fours in the 13th and 14th overs to provide the much-desired surge in the scoring rate. His stay was curtailed by Dwaine Pretorius in his return over – the 14th of the innings – with a length delivery that bowled him.
Shamsi picked up his fourth wicket in his final over as Asif Ali (seven off eight) mistimed a heave down the ground which was caught at long-on comfortably. The dismissal marked the first instance that Shamsi took four wickets in a T20I.
Pakistan were taken over the line by Mohammad Nawaz (18 not out off 11) and Hasan Ali, who crunched a four and two sixes off Andile Phehlukwayo in the penultimate over – the last one sealing the contest.
David Miller made a magnificent 85 not out from 45 balls to help South Africa post 164 after being reduced to a paltry 65 for seven at the halfway stage of the innings.
The left-handed batsman smacked seven sixes and five fours as he helped South Africa accumulate 116 runs after the loss of six wickets – the most by any team in international T20s.
He launched Faheem Ashraf for four sixes as tourists total surged by 25 runs in the last over.
Pakistan bowlers – especially the spinners – vindicated their captain’s decision to bowl at the toss as South Africa had three batsmen back in the pavilion for 41 runs by the end of the six overs.
Nawaz’s left-arm spin accounted for Reeza Hendricks – who was coming into this match with the scores of 54 and 42 – and Jon Jon Smuts. His two overs brought as many wickets for 13 runs.
Hasan, who was playing his first T20I match since May 2019, bowled Pite van Biljon – one of the stars of South Africa’s win yesterday – with a well-disguised slower ball in an eventful sixth over after being hit for three consecutive fours.
Debutant Zahid Mahmood bowled an outstanding first over in T20Is when he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen and Janneman Malan on back-to-back deliveries in the next over to leave South Africa reeling for 46 for five.
The Dadu-born leg-spinner picked up his maiden wicket with a back-of-the-hand delivery before his sharp leg-break trapped Malan in front of stumps.
Usman Qadir sent Phehlukwayo back to the hut in the eighth over and Zahid bowled Pretorius with a sharp leg-break to leave the tourists seven wickets down for just 65.
For his match-winning contributions with both bat and ball, Nawaz bagged player of the match award.
With this victory Pakistan marked an outstanding 2020-21 home season with wins in all four series. Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in three Super League ODIs and three-match T20I series last year and started the ongoing year with a brilliant Test series win (2-0) against South Africa.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat South Africa by four wickets and win the T20I series 2-1
South Africa 164-8, 20 overs (David Miller 85 not out; Zahid Mahmood 3-40, Mohammad Nawaz 2-13, Hasan Ali 2-29)
Pakistan 169-6, 18.4 overs (Babar Azam 44, Mohammad Rizwan 42, Hasan Ali 20 not out; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-25)
Player of the match – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
Player of the series – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
