Pakistan seal T20 series in Lahore

A wonderful half-century from former captain Babar Azam led Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the T20 series decider at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday evening.

Babar notched up his 37th T20 half-century, scoring 68 from 47 balls as Pakistan reached 140 for six in response to South Africa’s below-par total of 139 for nine after Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and asked Donovan Ferreira’s charges to take first strike.

Corbin Bosch (4-0-24-2) had given the visitors the best start, removing Saim Ayub for a six-ball duck. But Babar turned back the clock, striking nine boundaries while sharing in a match-defining partnership of 76 from 52 balls with Agha (33) for the third wicket to put the hosts on the brink of victory.

Ferreira (4-0-30-1) removed opener Sahibzada Farhan for 19 which included two fours and a six from 18 balls with Matthew Breetzke taking a good catch in the deep. Once Babar and Agha settled in, with the Pakistan captain striking just two fours, the South African attack found life difficult in curbing the Pakistan charge.

However, Lizaad Williams (3-0-26-2) had Agha caught by Andile Simelane in the covers to open up an end and cause some fluttering in the Pakistan dressing room. Bosch returned to the attack and got the big wicket of Babar, pulling a short ball straight into the hands of Reeza Hendricks on the deep square-leg boundary.

Williams then repeated the act, seeing the back Hasan Nawaz (5), also caught by Hendricks in the same fashion and same position. Simelane (3-0-23-1) had Muhammad Nawaz playing onto his stumps first ball but by then, Pakistan were just six runs away from victory which Usman Khan (6 not out) calmly knocked off.

Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi (4-0-26-3) had broken the Proteas hearts in the first over, removing Quinton de Kock and Luan-dre Pretorius with consecutive balls, both without scoring.

Hendricks (34) and Dewald Brevis (21) stemmed the flow briefly with a 38-run stand for the third wicket from 42 deliveries, but introduction of the debutant spinner, Usman Tariq (4-0-26-2) quickly ended the stand with Brevis, who struck two sixes, top-edging a pull shot to Babar at mid-wicket.

Breetzke (1) lasted just four balls before being cleaned up by Muhammad Nawaz (3-0-38-1). Hendricks stood at the other end watching wickets tumble around him. Captain Ferreira (29) offered some glimmer of hope with a 14-ball stay.

Faheem Ashraf (4-0-28-2) grabbed two wickets in as many balls, first having Ferreira driving straight to Agha at mid-off and then George Linde pulling powerfully into the hands of Hasan Nawaz at short mid-wicket.

Hendricks finally fell in pursuit of runs, sweeping Tariq into the hands of Hasan Nawaz at backward square-leg. Simelane (13) struck one lovely six over extra cover but then pulled Salman Mirza (4-0-16-1) to Afridi on the square-leg fence.

Williams (5) failed to trouble the scorers much but Bosch managed to give the South African bowlers something to defend with an unbeaten 30 from 23 balls, which included just two fours.

The teams now prepare for the three-match one-day international (ODI) series, beginning in Faisalabad on Tuesday.

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Usman Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira (capt), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman.