Clinical SA too hot for Pak
Abu Dhabi, Oct. 27:Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe and off-spinner Johan Botha took three wickets apiece to help South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets in the first of two Twenty20 matches here on Tuesday.
Tsotsobe, with a career-best 3/16, and skipper Botha (3/31) led a spirited South African bowling to restrict Pakistan to a paltry 119 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium in a match whose income will go to flood victims in Pakistan.
Over two million people were displaced in the worst-ever floods in Pakistan.
Jean-Paul Duminy hit an elegant 41 while Colin Ingram remained unbeaten with 46 as South Africa reached the target after losing three early wickets for 26. The two left-handers shared a solid 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket after paceman Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan some hope with the quick wickets of opener Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers in the third over.
Ingram hit two towering sixes and four boundaries during his 38-ball knock.
Duminy hit five boundaries as the two dominated the Pakistan bowling which initially looked threatening.
Botha said he was happy to lead the series. “I am happy at the way the young guns stepped in after we lost three early wickets especially Ingram and Duminy,” said Botha.
Earlier, Tsotsobe and off-spinner Botha bowled tightly to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted on a flat pitch. Misbah-ul-Haq, top-scored with 27 with a six and two boundaries.
Scores: Pakistan 119 in 19.5 overs (Afridi 25, Misbah 27 n.o.; Tsotsobe 3/16, Botha 3/31 lost to South Africa 120/4 in 18.2 overs (Duminy 41, Ingram 46 n.o.; Akhtar 2/29).
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