Captain's knock from Khan earns Pakistan consolation win in final T20I

Captain Javeria Khan top-scored with 56* as Pakistan set a competitive total of 127/6. And a superb performance from off-spinner Anam Amin, with 2/14 off her four overs, helped the touring side restrict South Africa to 68/4 with just 45 deliveries remaining when the game was halted by rain.

The victory ensured Pakistan, who impressed in patches throughout the tour, avoided losing all six of their matches, having already been beaten 3-0 in the ODI series in January.

Scorecard

The hosts, who had already wrapped up the T20I series win, made five changes to their side. And the lack of game-time showed during a stuttering run-chase, with Pakistan ripping through the top order and leaving the hosts 51/4 at the midway point of their chase.

Faye Tunnicliffe was run out by a combination of Aiman Anwer and Muneeba Ali in just the second over, and Marizanne Kapp was clean bowled by Amin just five balls later to leave the home side reeling on 4/2.

Anne Bosche steadied the ship before chipping a caught and bowled chance straight back to Amin with the score on 29/3, and Lara Goodall became the 99th T20I victim of Pakistan veteran Nida Dar in the tenth over.

Mignon du Preez and captain Sune Luus upped the rate to give South Africa hope of reaching their target of 128 to win. But, just as the game looked set for a thrilling finale, the players were forced off by rain with the Proteas still needing 60 runs off the remaining 45 balls.

The game was unable to restart as the rain continued to fall in Durban, with Pakistan awarded the win by eight runs via DLS method.

Pakistan skipper Khan had anchored the first innings with an unbeaten 56, and along with Ayesha Zafar, she put on a steady opening stand to build a 30-run platform by the time the first wicket fell in the seventh over.

A terrific bowling performance from right-arm seamer Tumi Sekhukhune, with 2/15 off her four overs, helped South Africa keep the innings under control. And Nondumiso Shangase was the other standout performer for the hosts with the ball, bagging 3/20.

But a late flurry from Khan and Kainat Imtiaz, with the pair adding 47 in the last five overs, dragged Pakistan up to 127/6.

South Africa suffered a double blow early in their chase, with the dismissals of Tunnicliffe and Kapp leaving the Proteas two wickets down with just four runs on the board midway through the third over. And despite a decent recovery, led by Du Preez’s 24* off 23 balls, South Africa were unable to get back ahead of the required run rate before the rain arrived.

“Cricket South Africa (CSA) would like to congratulate the Momentum Proteas for yet another series win," Graeme Smith, Director of CSA, said after the match. “They once again displayed the quality they have by playing outstanding cricket throughout the T20 series.

“We saw some excellent performances from several players in the group and I would like to commend all of them for their efforts. A special mention must also be made of Shabnim Ismail, who became the first Protea - male or female - to reach 100 T20I wickets. The women’s game is continuing to make great strides and this is really exciting for all South Africans.

“Finally, I must also thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for undertaking the trip to our country during these difficult times," Smith added. "As we have seen with Covid-19, the sporting landscape has changed dramatically and we feel honoured to have hosted them during an incident-free tour."

Pakistan will now travel to Zimbabwe to play three ODIs and two T20Is, with all five matches scheduled to be held in Harare later this month.