4th T20: Pakistan outclass South Africa by 3 wickets, take series 3-1

In the Fourth and last T20 match played at Centurion between Pakistan and South Africa, the guest team won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Playing first, South Africa scored 144 runs in 19.3 overs. Hassan Ali and Fahim Ashraf took 3.3 wickets each.

Pakistan in response clinched the target in the second-last bowl of the inning.

Fakhar Zaman batted aggressively and played lightning-fast innings of 60 off 34 balls which included 4 sixes and 5 fours. Babar Azam scored 24 runs while opener Mohammad Rizwan returned to the pavilion without opening an account.

Pakistan achieved the target in the last over at a loss of 7 wickets. Mohammad Nawaz hit a six to lead the team to victory. Muhammad Nawaz (25) and Hassan Ali (2) remained unbeaten.

Muhammad Hafeez scored 10, Haider Ali 3 and Asif Ali 5 runs.

The innings did not start well for South Africa as Muhammad Nawaz led Eden to the pavilion with a total score of 16. Later, the African batsmen batted cautiously to take the score to 73 and then Janeman Milan was also dismissed.

The South African team could not stay on the crease until the stipulated overs due to Pakistani bowlers and was forced to end the innings in 19.3 overs.

South Africa's Van der Dawson (52) and Milan (33) were the standout batsmen while Pakistan's Faheem Ashraf and Hassan Ali (3) were the leading bowlers.

Haris Rauf took two wickets, Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi took one wicket each.

Pakistan has a 1-2 lead in the four-match T20 series. In the first T20, Pakistan defeated South Africa, while in the second T20, the Proteas beat the Green Shirts to level the series.

In the third T20, Pakistan achieved the target of 204 runs for the loss of one wicket in 18 overs thanks to the brilliant batting of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan Squad

Babar Azam (Captain), Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sharjeel Khan and Usman Qadir.

South Africa Squad

Heinrich Klaasen (Captain, wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne, Pite van Biljon, Daryn Dupavillon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams and Wihan Lubbe

Series schedule:

April 10 — 1st T20I; Pakistan defeated South Africa by four wickets 

April 12 — 2nd T20I; South Africa beat Pakistan by 6 wickets

April 14 — 3rd T20I; Pakistan rout South Africa by 9 wickets

April 16 — 4th T20I; Pakistan defeated South Africa by 3 wickets 

ODI series:

Pakistan had defeated South Africa by 28 runs and won the three matches One Day International (ODI) series by 2-1.

In the first match of the series, Pakistan defeated South Africa by 3 wickets while South Africa won the second match by 17 runs.

Pakistan is the only side to beat South Africa at their home twice in the last 10 years.