Awful Proteas powerplay hands Pakistan victory in dead rubber

South Africa failed to complete a Twenty20 international whitewash of Pakistan following an awful powerplay in a 27-run defeat.

Published : Feb 07, 2019 08:59 IST

Imad Wasim goes through the defence of Janneman Malan.
Imad Wasim goes through the defence of Janneman Malan.
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Imad Wasim goes through the defence of Janneman Malan.

Pakistan recovered some pride in the third and final Twenty20 international against South Africa as it eased to a 27-run success.

The Proteas had already sealed a series win with back-to-back victories ahead of this match, having also come out on top in the Tests and the one-day internationals.

But Pakistan ensured there would be some belated positives to take from the contests with a triumph in Centurion.

South Africa looked to have seized control after a bright start from the tourist with the bat, yet Shadab Khan (22) finished the innings in style with three sixes in the final over of the innings, taking Pakistan to 168 for nine.

Although Rassie van der Dussen (41) and Chris Morris (55 not out) offered some resistance after a dismal powerplay, they were let down by their team-mates and South Africa finished well short on 141-9.

South Africa required the wicket of Babar Azam, who had made 23 off 11 balls, to check the tourist's early momentum, with Morris (2 for 27) and Beuran Hendricks (4 for 14) slowing the scoring while others coughed up cheap runs.

A bizarre mix-up between Morris and Tabraiz Shamsi at the boundary gifted Mohammad Rizwan (26) his third four, but the batsman was out the following delivery as he picked out Junior Dala for Lutho Sipamla's first international wicket.

Pakistan's innings became increasingly error strewn and a messy run out accounted for captain Shoaib Malik (18), before Hussain Talat edged behind with a wild swipe.

As the tourist looked to be recovering, Hendricks came to the fore. He crashed through Imad Wasim (19) and, with Pakistan searching for sixes, saw both Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir pick out fielders in the deep from the penultimate over.

Runs were slow and wickets were swift in the South Africa innings. Van der Dussen battled away, but the Proteas had tallied just 24 for two by the end of the powerplay, the lowest such score on this ground.

A partnership of 36 between Van der Dussen and David Miller was the host's biggest, but the former was removed by Faheem Ashraf as he sliced a full toss delivery.

There was a brief window of hope for South Africa as Morris hit 21 runs off the 14th over, but his partners failed to keep pace.

Even as the big-hitter passed 50 with a pair of sixes in the final over, Pakistan cruised to the finish.

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