Pakistan in South Africa, 3 T20I Series, 2019

PAK 186/9 in 20.0 Overs

MATCH ENDED

SA beat PAK by 6 runs

Man of the Match - David Miller

192/6 (20.0/20 ov)

PAK

186/9 (20.0/20 ov)

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Commentary

We have had an amazing game to start off this T20I series. Hopefully, it is a prequel for the ones to follow. We are signing off now but we will hope to see you for the next game at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. That one will begin at 1430 local (1230 GMT). Till then, take care and cheers!
Man of the Match - David Miller for his spectacular game-changing efforts on the field. 4 catches and 2 run outs, a record for South Africa.
Earlier in the evening, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first. South Africa, on the back of two big innings from Faf du Plessis and Reeza Hendricks reached 192. They could have had a lot more if not for the splendid death-over bowling from Pakistan. 193 was still going to be a stiff target and even though the away team tried their best, they fell short by six. Their 9-game winning streak in T20Is is snapped thus. David Miller had an exceptional night on the field as he effected 6 dismissals - 2 run outs and 4 catches which is the most by any South African outfielder in T20Is. Andile Phehlukwayo picked up only one wicket but bowled an economical spell in a game where the run rate was well above 9. A small difference in the end between these two sides and one will hope for such games in the next two matches as well.
That is that! It was an amazing game of cricket in the end. What entertainment here at Newlands, Cape Town. Pakistan usually implode but tonight they never gave up. They lost a lot of wickets but they kept coming back and they kept trying hard. In the end though, the total was just too far away from them. South Africa just about held their nerve and a brilliant last over from Morris sealed the deal for them. The run chase began poorly for Pakistan but then came a good 81-run stand for the second wicket between Hussain Talat and Babar Azam. The latter was especially in good touch as he made 38. They both fell in quick succession though and the hosts were back on top. Shoaib Malik then walked in and kept the away team in the hunt even as wickets fell around him. When he fell for 49 in the final over, that was when Pakistan's hope really got broken. A really good game of T20 cricket thus, but a fair result in the end, the hosts just about deserved to win this.
19.6
1
C Morris to S Khan, Dropped but that won't matter much. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 6 RUNS! A short of a length ball on middle, Shadab stands back to pull it across the line but it catches the top edge and balloons in the air behind square leg. The keeper sprints across to his left, gets underneath it with a dive but fails to hold on to the catch as he crashes down on the ground. They take a run. Excellent over under pressure by Morris. He is back. The South African players are shaking hands in the middle.
19.5
2
C Morris to S Khan, Just two off the over! All over now for Pakistan, the bowler just needs to stay behind the line on the next ball. Fullish in line, Khan drills it down to long on where Miller makes the stop. Two taken.
19.4
4
C Morris to S Khan, FOUR! Out of nowhere! Fullish and on middle, Shadab gives it the full face of his bat and lifts it over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Usman Khan is the last man in.
19.3
W
C Morris to S Malik, OUT! Malik holes out! Morris delivers it fullish and in the line of the stumps, Shoaib clears his front leg and tries to clear long on. But he gets more height than distance on this one and David Miller takes the skier safely. His fourth catch tonight along with two run outs. He has been in the thick of things.
19.2
0
C Morris to S Khan, A cracking yorker, Shadab fails to dig it out and they steal a bye. 14 off 4 balls.
19.1
1
C Morris to S Malik, A low full toss dipping in on middle, Malik swings and sends it to deep mid-wicket. Just a run, the best possible result for South Africa.
END OF OVER: 19 | 13 Runs 0 Wkt | PAK: 177/8
16 needed from the final over. Chris Morris has the ball in his hand. His last over went for 14. So, pressure is on him as well. Shoaib Malik is on strike.
18.6
1lb
J Dala to S Malik, He attempts for the boundary but gets only a single. A length ball with some slowness, Malik fails to connect his shot and gets rapped on his body. The ball rolls to the off side and a leg bye is taken. He will be on strike for the last over, that is the positive for Pakistan.
18.5
4
J Dala to S Malik, FOUR! Junior feeling the heat! Bowls a half-tracker outside off and it is cut away hard through point for an easy boundary. 17 runs now required in 7. Will he go for a boundary or go for a single on the last ball?
18.4
2
J Dala to S Malik, Mistimes the slog now but it is a blessing in disguise as he is able to pick up two runs till mid-wicket can come in and return the ball.
18.3
4
J Dala to S Malik, FOUR! This game is not over yet folks! Not as long as this guy is out there. A quick delivery outside off and Malik swipes through the line but a thick outside edge takes the ball over the keeper's head and to the third man boundary.
18.2
0
J Dala to S Malik, Lovely bowling this! Sees Malik making room and bowls this well outside off on a length and slower in pace. Malik just lets it go as he knows he wouldn't reach the ball. A dot ball.
18.1
2
J Dala to S Malik, Short of a length and coming into the batsman, Shoaib Malik makes room and cuts it to backward point for a couple of runs.
END OF OVER: 18 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 164/8
Shadab Khan walks out at number 10. Junior Dala to bowl the 19th over.
17.6
W
B Hendricks to H Ali, OUT! Yet another wicket off the final ball of the over, fifth to be precise. A full length ball around off, slower in pace again, Hasan tries to go straight but fails to middle his aerial shot properly. It loops in the air and Miller takes the simplest of catches at long off. 29 off 12 balls. All up to skipper Shoaib Malik now.
17.5
2
B Hendricks to H Ali, Fullish and around off, Hasan swings his bat across the line and it goes off the inside edge through wide mid on. Two taken.
17.4
2
B Hendricks to H Ali, Tries a yorker but it ends up being a full toss around off. Ali swings it over mid-wicket and returns for the second run.
17.3
6
B Hendricks to H Ali, SIX! That is some strike! Back of a length delivery outside off, at 116 kph, Hasan rocks back, brings his bottom hand into play and dispatches it over long off for a biggie. He can hit long, we all know that.