Twitter Reactions: Pakistan survive late mini-collapse to beat South Africa 3-1 in the T20I series

The game went down to the last ball after which Mohammad Nawaz took the visitors to a win with a six.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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3 Min Read

Fakhar Zaman
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Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: Twitter)

After a thumping win in the third T20I, Pakistan have put forth another decent show in the fourth game. On Friday, April 16, Babar Azam and Co beat South Africa by three wickets with one ball to spare at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The victory also helped the visiting team secure a 3-1 victory in the series. Their bowlers strangled the South African batters on a decent batting strip.

Hasan and Faheem shine

After electing to field first, Pakistan started handsomely after Mohammad Nawaz removed Aiden Markram. Thereafter, Janneman Malan and Rassie van der Dussen restored sanity with a 57-run stand off 39 balls. It was Faheem Ashraf, who separated the duo as he got rid of Malan, who was batting on a 28-ball 33.

Van der Dussen, on the other hand, got to his half-century off 33 balls. But once Haris Rauf accounted for his wicket, the Proteas innings fell apart. Rassie went on to score 52 off 36 with five fours and two sixes.

Apart from the top three, no other batter could get into the double digits as the hosts were bowled out for 144. Hasan Ali and Faheem picked up three wickets each. Rauf picked up two wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nawaz shared a wicket each.

Fakhar and Babar make hay

The Proteas didn’t have the most auspicious start as left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin sent back Mohammad Rizwan for a two-ball duck. However, from there on, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman made sure that the home team wasn’t allowed to get a foothold back into the contest.

Fakhar went on to score a fifty off 27 balls and ended on 60 runs off 34 balls with five fours and four sixes. He was also involved in a 91-run partnership with his skipper. When he got out, Pakistan needed a mere 53 runs off 64 balls.

Lizaad Williams dismissed Babar, who made a 34-ball 60. Haider Ali fell cheaply after which Tabraiz Shamsi removed Mohammad Hafeez in the 14th over of the chase. Sisanda Magala got rid of Ashraf to put more pressure on the Pakistan batting.

Due to the mini-collapse, the required rate jumped up to 8.33 in the last three overs. In the end, it was Nawaz’s unbeaten 21-ball 25 with one four and two sixes that saw Pakistan over the finishing line.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Pakistan’s win:

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