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LAHORE: Babar Azam scored a brilliant half-century to steer Pakistan to a clinical four-wicket win over South Africa in the third and final T20I at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, sealing the three-match series 2–1.
After being blown away by 55 runs in the opening game, the hosts bounced back in style to claim back-to-back victories and end the series on a high.
Chasing a modest 140-run target, Pakistan overcame early hiccups before Babar’s composed 68 off 47 balls guided them home with six balls to spare. His innings, laced with nine boundaries.
Pakistan’s chase began shakily as Saim Ayub fell for a six-ball duck with just eight on the board.
Sahibzada Farhan’s 18-ball 19 offered some resistance before his dismissal left Pakistan at 44 for two.
From there, Babar joined forces with skipper Salman Ali Agha to rebuild, adding a fluent 76-run stand for the third wicket that shifted momentum firmly in Pakistan’s favour.
Both batters appeared set to finish the job, but South Africa hit back late, dismissing Agha (33 off 26) and Babar in quick succession.
The mini-collapse saw Hasan Nawaz (5) and Mohammad Nawaz (0) depart cheaply, leaving the hosts momentarily unsettled at 133/6.
However, Faheem Ashraf (6*) and Usman Khan (4*) held their nerve to complete the formalities and secure the series for Pakistan.
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi set the tone with a fiery new-ball spell, removing two batters in consecutive deliveries in the opening over to leave South Africa reeling at 0 for 2.
Despite brief resistance from Reeza Hendricks (34 off 36) and Dewald Brevis (21 off 22), the visitors never truly recovered.
Debutant Usman Tariq struck crucial blows in the middle overs, while Faheem Ashraf’s double-wicket burst, dismissing Donovan Ferreira (29 off 14) and George Linde on consecutive balls, dismantled the Proteas’ lower order.
Corbin Bosch’s fighting 30* provided some stability as South Africa limped to 139/9 in their 20 overs.
Shaheen finished with 3 for 26 and was well supported by Faheem (2–20) and Tariq (2–27), while Nawaz and Salman Mirza chipped in with one wicket apiece.
