Five-wicket Dwaine Pretorius helped South Africa to beat Pakistan by six wickets in the second Twent20 at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore to even the three-match series 1-1.
Fast bowler Pretorius recorded the best bowling figures for a South African bowler to help Pakistan keep down to 144-7.
The 31-year-old took 5-17 in his four lethal overs as Pakistan -- sent in to bat -- rode on a 41-ball 51 by wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan on a slow pitch.
Chasing a target of 145 runs, South Africa never looked in trouble as Pakistan bowlers resorted to wayward and brainless bowling as the guest reached home in the 17th over.
Reeza Hendricks scored 42 runs off 30 balls as he hit three sixes and three fours in its innings. Pite van Biljon also made 42 runs off 32 balls hitting two sixes and three fours. He also survived a stumping when Usman Qadir found to be overstepped the crease. David Miller and Heinrich Klassen remained unbeaten for 25 and 17 runs respectively.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi took two wickets for 18 runs while Nawaz conceded 27 runs and Qadir 43 runs as both took one wicket apiece. Haris Rauf conceded 26 runs in his two overs.
The story was the same for Pakistan batting as it was in first Twenty20; losing Babar Azam early and wicket-keeper batsman Muhammad Rizwan keeping one end intact and scoring fluent runs to give Pakistan some score on the board.
Babar once again lost the toss and South Africa again put Pakistan into the bat in the second Twenty20 of the three-match series.
Pakistan, who lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first match by three runs on Thursday, kept the same combination. South Africa made three changes from the first match in Lahore, bringing in Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman and Jon-Jon Smuts. They replaced Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin and Jacques Snyman. Stuurman, 28, a right arm fast bowler made his Twenty20 International debut.
Pakistan captain Babar was Pretorius first wicket when he was trapped right in front on the second ball of the second over of the match. Babar went for a review but the DRS showed that the ball was bound to crash into middle and leg. And with no bat involved, it was a plumb one. He scored five runs.
Soon Pakistan were reduced 36-2 in fifth over when Haider Ali went for the pick-up shot against Andile Phehlukwayo and made a neat connection but ended up hitting it to the fielder at deep-backward square leg where Lutho Sipamla took an excellent catch tumbling to his right, as the ball was travelling. Haider scored 10 runs off 11 balls and hit two boundaries.
At the end of the power play, Pakistan could make only 46-2 and reached 50 runs mark for the loss of three wickets in 6.4 overs.
Hussain Talat (3 off 7 balls) was next to come and go when his attempt to reverse sweep Tabraiz Shamsi’s delivery that went straight to van Biljon at backward point as Pakistan were reduced to 48-3. AT halfway stage, Pakistan were 68-3 in 10 overs.
Rizwan, however, continued to cash in on his rich form and reached another 50 off 39 balls in 14the over and become first Pakistan opener to score three consecutive fifty-plus score in the shortest version of the game including a century.
Iftikhar Ahmad became the second victim of Pretorius, when he mishit a superb slower ball that went sky-rocketed and David Miller took an emphatic catch. He scored 20 runs off 21 balls hitting two boundaries.
Pretorius also ended the Rizwan’s innings through another ide slower ball. Rizwan who was looking for long to hit a big one went after the delivery but his shot ended up in the hands of Phehlukwayo. He scored 51 runs off 41 balls hitting six boundaries and a six.
Khushdil Shah was Pretorius’ next victim when he edged a wide yorker to be taken by wicketkeeper Klassen. One ball latter, he bowled a perfect yorker to Muhammad Nawaz that pings the base of off stump as he completed his five wickets hall. Khushdil scored 15 runs off 188 balls, hitting two boundaries.
Pretorius finished his four overs spell with figures of 5-17.
However, it was Faheem Ashraf’s quickfire unbeaten 30 off 12 balls that helped Pakistan finish 144-7. Faheem hit two sixes and as many boundaries in his innings.