Pakistan stun South Africa with a remarkable comeback

Resilient performances by Dar, Javed and Riaz made sure that Pakistan snatch an incredible victory from the jaws of defeat.

South Africa and Pakistan entered into the third T20I with the series square at 1-1. South Africa made two changes to their side. Nondumiso Shangase and Nadine de Klerk came in for Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas. Pakistan named an unchanged side.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field. The opener Tazmin Brits made a good start to the inning by picking up two boundaries in the second over but a breakdown in communication resulted into Lee being run out for just 2 runs.

Brits and de Klerk built a steady partnership as they rotated the score and picked up boundaries in regular intervals. In the 12th over they brought up 50-run partnership. Brits completed her maiden T20 half century in 47 deliveries. The 80-run stand was broken by Shamim when de Klerk tried an adventurous shot but was caught at short fine leg for 36 off 35 deliveries.

In the 16th over, Tryon was out just after 4 deliveries for 0 with the score of 95 on board. The skipper Luus scored three boundaries in 18th over bowled by Sandhu. Brits closed the inning with a massive six off Riaz to take the score to 138-3. She remained unbeaten on 70 off 61 deliveries with 9 fours and a six. Luus scored 28* off 18 deliveries.

Chasing 139 for win, Pakistan suffered a disastrous start as Sohail was caught spectacularly by Jafta on the second delivery of Ismail. Maroof was next to depart in the next over when she was bowled by Daniels for 1. Javeria Khan's two stumps were uprooted in the next over by Ismail and Pakistan were pegged back at 3-3.

Nida Dar and Iram Javed launched a counterattack and took the bowlers to task. They brought up 50 run partnership in 9th over bowled by Luus when Javed and Dar hit 2 sixes and a boundary in the over. Javed hit two more boundaries in the next over and by the half way through Pakistan were 71-3.

The 54 ball 77 run partnership was broken by Daniels as she cleaned up Dar's stumps for 32 off 28 deliveries. Riaz joined well set Javed and continued to accelerate the scoring. Javed brought her maiden T20 fifty by scoring back to back boundaries off de Klerk. The pair built a 44-run partnership in 35 deliveries.

With 21 runs needed of 18 deliveries Riaz hit a massive six to change the equation of the chase. She fell immediately to a catch by Shangase off Daniels. In the last over Pakistan needed 7 runs and de Klerk dismissed Iram Javed as Brits took a superb catch on the boundary. With 6 runs required of 3 deliveries Mir hit a boundary and 2 runs to conclude a thrilling chase.

Pakistan won the nail biting encounter by 4 wickets and 2 deliveries to spare. Iram Javed was declared player of the match.

Pakistan lead the five match series 2-1.

Brief Scores

South Africa vs Pakistan

South Africa 138-3 (T Brits 70*, de Klerk 36, Luus 28*)

Pakistan 139-6 in 19.4 overs (Javed 55, Dar 32, Riaz 30, Daniels 3-13)

Pakistan won by 4 wickets.