In first Innings, South Africa had dominated the middle overs but slowed down in the end to finish with 188-6 — a total that was smaller than they were on course to amass when Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were in full flow.
Two South African batsmen scored half-centuries against Pakistan. Eden McRae scored 51 off 32 balls while Proteas skipper Henrik Klaassen scored 50 off 28 balls with four sixes and two fours. Pakistan’s Hassan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each.
Pakistan’s bowlers were able to take six wickets, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking and Haris Rauf taking one each and Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali two each.
In pursuit of the target, Pakistan captain returned to the pavilion with 14 runs while Fakhruzzaman scored 27 runs. Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed for 13 runs, Haider Ali played an innings of 14 runs, Mohammad Nawaz returned to the pavilion without scoring a run.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan played a key role in Pakistan’s victory with 74 runs. He played opener and remained unbeaten in the first match against South Africa. Fahm Ashraf scored 30 and Haider Ali 14 runs.
In the first T20, Pakistan defeated South Africa by four wickets while Mohammad Rizwan was declared man of the match for his excellent performance.
A day before the first T20I in Johannesburg, South Africa’s white-ball captain Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the series after suffering a Grade One hamstring strain. In his absence, Heinrich Klaasen will lead the Proteas.
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Wasim Qadri, Senior Journalist and Television Show host based in Islamabad, can be follow on twitter at @jaranwaliya