Markram leads South Africa to easy T20 win over Pakistan

Johannesburg - The third match of the series will be played in Pretoria on Wednesday

South Africa opener Aiden Markram struck a brisk half-century as the hosts levelled the four-game Twenty20 International series against Pakistan with a six wicket win in the second match at The Wanderers on Monday.

Pakistan elected to bat, but some poor stroke-play saw them restricted to 140 for nine in their 20 overs, well below par on one of the best batting wickets in world cricket.

South Africa never looked troubled in their reply as they reached their target with 36 balls left in a comprehensive win for a side missing seven leading players who are either injured or have been released to play in the Indian Premier League.

Pakistan’s innings got off to a somewhat bizarre start when in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan danced down the wicket to left-arm spinner George Linde (3-23) off the very first ball and was easily caught at mid-off by Markram.

Captain Babar Azam (50 from 50 balls) and Mohammad Hafeez (32 from 23) were the only batsmen to manage a score above 12 as seamer Lizaad Williams (3-35) and leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (1-22) bowled excellent spells for the home side.

Markram led the reply as he blasted 54 from 30 balls, with 46 of his runs in boundaries as he smashed seven fours and three sixes in an aggressive showing.

Stand-in skipper Heinrich Klaasen (36 from 21 balls) saw his side to the win as he added 49 in 3.4 overs in a fifth wicket partnership with Linde (20 from 10).

The third match of the series will be played in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

Pakistan

Mohammad Rizwan c Markram b Linde 0

Sharjeel Khan c Markram b Linde 8

Babar Azam b Magala 50

Mohammad Hafeez c Klaasen b Linde 32

Haider Ali c Linde b Shamsi 12

Faheem Ashraf c Linde b Williams 5

Hasan Ali c Linde b Williams 12

Mohammad Nawaz c Klaasen b Williams 2

Shaheen Afridi not out 7

Usman Qadir run out (Magala) 4

Mohammad Hasnain

Extras (lb1, nb3, w4) 8

Total (9 wkts, 20 overs) 140

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rizwan), 2-10 (Sharjeel), 3-68 (Hafeez), 4-92 (Haider), 5-111 (Faheem), 6-124 (Hasan), 7-128 (Babar), 8-128 (Nawaz), 9-139 (Qadir)

Bowling: Linde 4-0-23-3 (1w), Hendricks 4-0-27-0, Shamsi 4-0-22-1, Williams 4-0-35-3, Magala 4-0-32-1 (3nb, 3w)

South Africa

J. Malan c Shaheen Afridi b Hasan Ali 15

A. Markram c Faheem Ashraf b Usman Qadir 54

W. Lubbe c Babar Azam b Mohammad Hasnain 12

H. Klaasen not out 36

P. van Biljon c Mohammad Rizwan b Usman Qadir 2

G. Linde not out 20

Extras (lb1, w1) 2

Total (4 wkts, 14 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Malan), 2-58 (Lubbe), 3-88 (Markram), 4-92 (Van Biljon)

Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 3-0-30-0, Mohammad Nawaz 3-0-29-0, Mohammad Hasnain 2-0-25-1, Hasan Ali 2-0-16-1 (1w), Usman Qadir 3-0-26-2, Faheem Ashraf 1-0-14-0

Did not bat: A. Phehlukwayo, S. Magala, B. Hendricks, L. Williams, T. Shamsi

Result: South Africa won by six wickets

Series: The four-match series is tied at 1-1

Toss: Pakistan

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock, Bongani Jele (both RSA)

Television umpire: Shaun George (RSA)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

Remaining matches:

April 14, Centurion

April 16, Centurion