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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd T20: Pakistan win thriller to share honours

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Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal went on a six-hitting spree before Shahid Afridi sealed a series-levelling victory for Pakistan in the second and final Twenty20 international against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Hafeez hit 63 off 41 balls with three sixes and Akmal hammered 64 off 38 deliveries with four sixes as Pakistan made 176 for four, easily their best total in four 20-overs matches in the space of ten days against the same opponents - two of them in the United Arab Emirates. South Africa won all three previous matches.

Afridi took three for 28 with his brisk leg-spinners after South Africa had raced to 58 for no wicket in the first seven overs of their reply.

The hosts finished with 170 for four - losing by six runs - thanks largely to an unbroken stand of 53 off 28 balls between JP Duminy and David Miller. But they were never really in contention, despite scoring 19 off the penultimate over, bowled by Junaid Khan.

Seventeen were needed off the final over and Sohail Tanvir bowled a series of yorkers and low full tosses to restrict South Africa to 10 runs, which included a boundary off the last ball.

"We have been working hard," said Pakistan captain Hafeez, who was named man of the match and man of the series. "We knew we had to win this game to stay positive for the rest of the series."

Pakistan, who were beaten 4-1 in a one-day series and 2-0 in a Twenty20 series in the United Arab Emirates before travelling to South Africa, start a three-match one-day series at the same venue on Sunday.

Hafeez and Akmal put on 102 off just 57 balls for the third wicket as the South African bowlers were put to the sword.

The innings gained momentum when Wayne Parnell was no-balled in the seventh over and Hafeez slammed the free hit over the square leg fence for the first six.

Hafeez hit two successive straight sixes off left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso in the 12th over before Akmal followed suit in an over which cost 21 runs.

Three overs later Morne Morkel conceded 22 runs as Akmal hit successive deliveries for six, four and six again.

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a fast start but Afridi struck with his first delivery when De Kock swept him to deep backward square leg. Afridi took wickets in both his next two overs, having Faf du Plessis caught at midwicket and bowling AB de Villiers.

Amla went on to make 48 before he was caught in the deep off Saeed Ajmal, leaving Duminy (47 not out) and Miller (22 not out) with an improbable task.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

Pakistan scored a six-run victory over South Africa to win the second T20 International in Cape Town as they levelled the series 1-1.

Chasing an imposing 177 to win, South Africa got off to a good start with openers Hashim Amla (48) and Quinton de Kock (26) making a positive beginning.

But once Shahid Afridi came into bowl, he claimed three wickets to turn the fortunes in favour of Pakistan.

JP Duminy did his best to score an unbeaten 47 and was helped by David Miler with a 22 not out but they managed only 170 for four in 20 overs.

Tanvir bowls a fine over. He does not give any room for the South African batsmen for the big shots. Pakistan win by six runs.

A superb over for South Africa. 19 runs coming off it. SA 160-4 in 19 overs. It's going to be a tight final over.

Some fine shots from Duminy and South Africa are 141 for 4 in 18 overs.

Another fantastic over from Bhatti. He has been keeping it really tight giving no room for the batsmen to free their arms. SA 126-4 in 17 overs.

Amla's fighting knock comes to an end. Pakistan celebrate as things get difficult for the Proteas. SA 117-4 in 15.3 overs.

H Amla c Bilawal Bhatti b Saeed Ajmal 48 (67m 40b 5x4 0x6)

A fine over from Bhatti at this stage. Just gave away five runs. SA 115-3 in 15 overs.

Afridi's last over did not go well. But he did put Pakistan on top with his three wickets. SA 110-3 in 14 overs.

Pakistan really dont mind the singles Ajmal is conceding in his over. Pressure building on Proteas. SA 95-3 in 13 overs.

Afridi is on a roll here. He picks another and a big one. De Villiers is out. SA 87-3 in 11.4 overs.

AB de Villiers b Shahid Afridi 13 (8b 2x4 0x6)

South Africa are 84-2 in 11 overs.

Another wicket for Afridi and another good catch in the deep. Du Plessis has to walk and SA are 70-2 in 9.4 overs.

F du Plessis c Mohammad Hafeez b Shahid Afridi 6 (10b 0x4 0x6)

A wicket has slowed down Proteas progress. Pakistan would want more in the next few overs. SA 66-1 in 9 overs.

Du Plessis is in. SA 61-1 in 8 overs.

Afridi strikes immediately as he arrives, off his very first ball. De Kock as looking threatening and he is gone. SA 58-1 in 7.1 overs.

Q de Kock c Nasir Jamshed b Shahid Afridi 26 (24b 4x4 0x6)

Good start from Bhatti. He kept the South Africans under check. But they need a wicket. SA 58-0 in 7 overs.

Pakistan need a wicket here. The partnership is going strong and this could be a threat to Pakistan. SA 53-0 in 6 overs.

Runs coming in boundaries at the moment. SA cruising comfortably. They need 128 from 15 overs. SA 49-0 in 5 overs.

South Africa are 39-0 in 4 overs.

It's going great for South Africa. Couple of boundaries in that over. SA 17-0 in 2 overs

South Africa start their chase with a boundary from the first over. SA 5-0 in 1 over.

De Kock and Amla open for South Africa. Skipper Mohammad Hafeez picks the ball.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal smashed brilliant half centuries as Pakistan posted a healthy 176 for four in 20 overs.

Skipper Hafeez scored 63 from 41 deliveries including five boundaries and three sixes while Akmal faced only 37 balls to reach his 64 with the help of five hits to the fence and four over it.

For South Africa, Dale Steyn claimed two wickets.

Pakistan must be happy with that score. Afridi gets a boundary off the last ball as they score 176-4 in 20 overs.

Akmal goes for a big one but fails to time it. He is gone after a wonderful knock. Pak 172-4 in 19.4 overs.

Umar Akmal c Duminy b Steyn 64 (55m 37b 5x4 4x6)

Afridi is not connecting the ball well. He seems to be struggling and there is just one over left. Pak 167-3 in 19 overs.

Good over from Morkel. Gave away just three runs at this stage. Pak 155-3 in 18 overs.

A fine knock from Hafeez comes to an end. Pak 146-3 in 16.3 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c de Villiers b Steyn 63 (41b 5x4 3x6)

Akmal continues to fire as he reaches his half century in just 27 balls. Pakistan are in a fine position for now. Pak 145-2 in 16 overs.

Akmal was in a punishing mood. He hammered Morkel all over the park. Pak 131-2 in 15 overs.

Pak 109-2 in 14 overs.

Brilliant knock from the captain and Hafeez has given Pakistan a good platform. Pak 97-2 in 13 overs.

Great over for Pakistan. Three sixes as the partnership between both is 46. Pak 90-2 in 12 overs.

Not a great runrate to boast of for Pakistan. But Akmal has the capacity to turn things around. Pak 69-2 in 11 overs.

A steady partnership building between Hafeez and Akmal. Pak 62-2 in 10 overs.

A lot will depend on Umar Akmal as Pakistan cross 50. Pak 53-2 in 9 overs.

That was a brilliant start for Phangiso. Sees Jamshed step out and bowls a wide one for keeper de Kock to finish off the job. Pak 44-2 in 7.2 overs

Nasir Jamshed st de Kock b Phangiso 19 (19b 3x4 0x6)

Hafeez sends a strong statement with that fine six. He is up for the challenge. Pak 43-1 in 7 overs.

Shehzad succumbs thanks to a brilliant catch from Amla. Parnell gets a wicket on his first ball. Pak 25-1 in 4.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Amla b Parnell 9 (17m 11b 0x4 1x6)

Runs have started flowing in for Pakistan. Another good over for the visitors. Pak 25-0 in 4 overs.

Two fine boundaries and Pakistan get going. Pak 13-0 in 3 overs.

Steyn carries on the good work. Concedes just one run as Pakistan openers hunt for those loose balls. Pak 4-0 in 2 overs.

Impressive start from Morkel. He keeps the pressure on Pakistan giving away just three runs off his first over. Pak 3-0 in 1 over.

Morne Morkel bowls as Paksitan openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad prepare to give a good start.

Playing XI

South Africa:
Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, David  Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Dayle Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso.

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan

Pakistan is desperate for a win who have been losing everything in the recent past. After a dismal performance in UAE their bad luck continued when the lost the first T20I in Johannesburg.

Pakistan need to regroup fast to pose some sort of challenge to the Proteas, who are a formidable side both at home or overseas.

South Africa has never been consistent with their performance in the shortest version of game. However, in past six months, the team has done considerably well.

On the other side, before the Twenty20 matches in the UAE, Pakistan had emerged victorious on five occasions wherein they outclassed their rivals with a huge margin.