Pakistan wrapped up a 2-1 victory against South Africa in their T20I series after winning the third and final match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by four wickets.
The series was tied at 1-1 heading into the decider after the hosts won the first match by three runs and South Africa won the second one by six wickets.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat and saw a spectacular collapse of its batting order crumble to just 65-7, losing seven wickets for just 55 runs, after just over half of their innings (10.4). Debutant Zahid Mahmood, called up to replace the injured Shadab Khan, took 3-40 with one of his wickets being stand-in captain Heinrich Klaasen.
David Miller then stepped in and steadied the ship knocking an impressive 85 off just 45 deliveries. Miller’s efforts saw the visitors post a respectable 164-8, leaving Pakistan with a target of 165 to win.
Pakistan, in turn, took to the field and got off to a quick start with Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali posting a 51-run partnership.
Though Tabraiz Shamsi stymied the hosts’ progress in the middle, posting a career-best figure of 4 for 25, it was not enough as Pakistan bulldozed through with Babar Azam’s 44 off 30 edging them close. Mohammed Nawaz (18 not out) and Hasan Ali (20 not out) then came in to seal the win with eight balls to spare.
The win saw Pakistan become the first men’s team in international cricket to win 100 matches in the T20I format.
As for the Proteas, it was their first T20I series defeat in Asia and fourth straight T20I series loss.
The two sides will play against each other again in a three-match Test series and four-match T20I series in South Africa in April.