SA beat Pakistan by six runs in opening T20I

Monitoring Desk

CAPE TOWN: South Africa defeated Pakistan by six runs in the first match of T20 series at Newlands on Friday.

According to details, South Africa ended a nine-match Pakistan T20 winning streak in the first match of the series and win by six runs in a tense finish after being sent in and making 192 for six.

Pakistan came close, scoring 182 for nine.

Du Plessis hit 78 off 45 balls and shared a record second wicket stand of 131 off 74 balls with Hendricks, who made 74 off 41 deliveries.

Du Plessis said at the post-match presentation that he would not play in the remaining two matches, citing the need to rest ahead of two Test matches against Sri Lanka, starting on February 13.

Left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari dismissed Du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen in the same over and finished with three for 31.

Pakistan made a fast start despite losing Fakhar Zaman in the first over. Babar Azam (38) and Hussain Talat (40) put on 81 off 61 balls for the second wicket. At one stage they were scoring at close to 10 runs an over but the scoring slowed against tight bowling by medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

The match turned in South Africa s favour when Talat was caught off Shamsi, to be followed in the next over by Babar s run out, after a superb piece of fielding by Miller.

Malik kept Pakistan in the game, scoring 49 off 31 balls before he was dismissed off the third ball of the final over.

Du Plessis said he was always confident of winning but admitted: “They are a very composed, experienced T20 team. Being so dominant for a lot of games, obviously they are very confident. They are a very good team. We did some really good things tonight.”