Pakistan clinch T20I series 2-1 against South Africa as Shaheen Afridi takes three wickets and Babar Azam scores 68 in Lahore decider.
FAST bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed three crucial wickets while star batter Babar Azam struck a commanding half-century to power Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the second Twenty20 international.
Shaheen’s impressive figures of 3-26 restricted South Africa to 139-9 in their allotted twenty overs at Gaddafi Stadium.
Azam then anchored the chase with a brilliant 47-ball 68, guiding Pakistan to reach the target with six wickets down in the nineteenth over.
This victory secured a 2-1 series win for the home side after South Africa had taken the opening match by 55 runs in Rawalpindi.
A capacity crowd of 32,000 spectators at Gaddafi Stadium erupted in cheers as local hero Azam smashed three consecutive boundaries off Ottniel Baartman to reach his 37th T20I half-century.
Azam and Salman Agha steadied the innings with a solid 76-run partnership for the third wicket after early dismissals of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan.
The Pakistani captain struck nine boundaries during his match-winning innings before falling to pacer Corbin Bosch.
Pakistan faced a brief period of concern when Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz departed quickly after Azam’s dismissal.
Usman Khan calmly scored the winning single to complete the victory for the home team.
Skipper Salman Agha expressed satisfaction with his team’s comeback after losing the first match of the series.
South African captain Donovan Ferreira acknowledged his team’s batting shortcomings while praising the bowling effort.
South Africa’s innings began disastrously after being sent in to bat, losing two wickets without scoring a run.
Shaheen Afridi dismissed both Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for ducks in the opening over of the match.
The visitors slumped to three wickets down without scoring before Dewald Brevis successfully reviewed a leg-before decision.
Brevis and Reeza Hendricks staged a recovery with a 38-run partnership for the third wicket.
Debutant Usman Tariq broke the partnership by dismissing Brevis for 21 off 22 balls.
Hendricks top-scored for South Africa with 34 runs from 36 deliveries before falling to Tariq.
Ferreira contributed 29 runs with three sixes during a 34-run fifth-wicket partnership with Hendricks.
Corbin Bosch remained unbeaten on 30 to help South Africa post a competitive total.
Tariq finished with impressive figures of 2-26 on his international debut.
The series victory provides Pakistan with valuable momentum ahead of future international commitments. – AFP
