Match Report : South Africa VS Pakistan 2nd T20 International, Cape Town

Pakistan finally got back into winning ways with a victory over the Proteas in the second T20 at Newlands. Mohammad Hafeez’s team scrapped home by 6 runs in the end which helped them level the two match series 1-1. After putting on a decent total of 176 on the board, the match was evenly balanced for most part of it until Pakistan sealed it in the end despite the exploits of JP Duminy and David Miller. A splendid partnership between Hafeez and Akmal proved to be a difference in the end as the duo put on 102 in 55 deliveries, which ended with both players perishing in their 60s. The pair hit seven sixes between them, propelling the Pak score to a respectable 176. Dale Steyn was the only South African bowler who had his way with a couple of wickets, that of both the half-centurions.
            South Africa had a steady start to their run chase with Amla and De kock putting on a fifty plus run partnership for the first wicket until Afridi got the better of the youngster. Not many runs flowed subsequent to that for a while, with South Africa 87-3 at a stage after having lost their star batsman AB Devilliers clean bowled by Afridi. Duminy and Miller kept the chase on but couldn’t quite take their team over the line at the end despite the tags of being good finishers against their name. Afridi finished with figures of 3 for 28 from his quota of four overs, supported well by Bhatti and Ajmal who was making a comeback in this match. Pak captain Hafeez took home both the player of the match and player of the series awards, although his eyes would be set more on the ODI series which commences on Sunday.