Sublime Lee clinches the series for South Africa

South Africa successfully chased a record total in the fourth game to level the five-match T20I series 2-2. Both the teams met at Willowmoore Park, Benoni for the series decider.

South Africa won the toss and elected to chase again. Sohail and Javeria Khan made a slow and steady start for Pakistan by putting 11 runs in just 4 overs. Ismail struck first for the Proteas as she removed Sohail for 8. Javeria Khan adopted an aggressive approach and struck three quick boundaries. As she looked to set in with the skipper Maroof at the other end, Daniels dismissed her on last ball of the spell for 20.

At 37-2 Dar walked in to join Maroof and the pair looked to build another rapid partnership like in previous game. But in the 11th over Maroof departed for 23 with the score of 58 on board. Dar smashed back to back sixes to Luus and threatened to put up another big score. She and Riaz scored a boundary each in de Klerk's only over which cost 10 runs, but it was de Klerk who had the last laugh when she got the prized wicket of Dar for 28 (17b).

In the 16th over, Luus forced Javed to go for a big hit and she was caught in the deep by Ismail. South Africa had pegged back Pakistan at 95-5 but a late rally by Imtiaz and Riaz took the score to 125-5 at the end of the inning. Pakistan batters would rue the fact that none of them could capitalised on the start and accelerate the inning when it mattered.

Chasing 126 to win, South Africa were hoping for a solid start by Lee and Brits to ensure there would be no pressure on rest of the batting line up. The pair made a fast start and added 27 by the 4th over when Brits departed for 9. This wicket by Nida Dar was the only success came in the way of Pakistan bowlers as Lee and de Klerk took their bowling to task.

de Klerk scored 4 boundaries in the space of two overs and the pair quickly brought up 50 on board in 7th over. Lee and de Klerk scored a boundary in almost every over after that. At the end of 10th over South Africa were comfortably placed at 71-1 with both the batters on 28 and needed 55 runs in 1o overs to win the match.

After this over it was all Lee show as she tore the bowling apart. In the next over Lee brought up the 50-run partnership with a boundary to Dar. The next over of Sana went for 12 runs as Lee hit the first six of the inning and a boundary. In the 14th over Lee reached her consecutive half century in 40 balls which was her third of the series.

Lee scored three consecutive boundaries to Riaz in the next over bring the target within 5 runs. She hit Dar to a massive six to bring up a 100-run unbeaten stand and clinch the match. Lee remained unbeaten on 75 in 48 deliveries with 11 fours and 2 sixes. She was given a solid support by de Klerk who scored 37 not out in 31 deliveries with 6 fours.

South Africa won the match by 9-wickets to win the five-match series 3-2. Lee was awarded player of the match and Dar of Pakistan was aptly declared player of the series.

Brief Scores

South Africa vs Pakistan

Pakistan 125-5 (N Dar 28, A Riaz 26*, Ismail 1-16, de Klerk 1-10)

South Africa 127-1 in 15.1 overs (L Lee 75*, de Klerk 37*, N Dar 1-23)

South Africa won by 9-wickets.