CAPE TOWN: Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal went on a six-hitting spree before Shahid Afridi sealed a series-levelling victory for Pakistan in the second and final Twenty20 international against South Africa at Newlands yesterday.
Hafeez hit 63 off 41 balls with three sixes and Akmal hammered 64 off 38 deliveries with four sixes as Pakistan made 176 for four, easily their best total in four 20-overs matches in the space of ten days against the same opponents -- two of them in the United Arab Emirates. South Africa won all three previous matches.
Afridi took three for 28 with his brisk leg-spinners after South Africa had raced to 58 for no wicket in the first seven overs of their reply.
The hosts finished with 170 for four -- losing by six runs - thanks largely to an unbroken stand of 53 off 28 balls between JP Duminy and David Miller. But they were never really in contention, despite scoring 19 off the penultimate over, bowled by Junaid Khan.
Seventeen were needed off the final over and Sohail Tanvir bowled series of yorkers and low full tosses to restrict South Africa to 10 runs, which included a boundary off the last ball.
Pakistan, who were beaten 4-1 in a one-day series and 2-0 in a Twenty20 series in the United Arab Emirates start a three-match ODI series tomorrow. AFP
