CENTURION, South Africa – Pakistan paceman Umar Gul claimed the remarkable analysis of 5-6 to help dismiss the Proteas for 100 and set up victory by the enormous margin of 95 runs in the second and deciding KFC T20 International at Supersport Park on Sunday.
The first game was washed out without a ball being bowled at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday, allowing the tourists to claim the series 1-0.
Mohammed Hafeez led his team to a formidable total of 195-7 with an explosive innings of 86 from just 51 deliveries with nine fours and four sixes.
A second-wicket partnership of 83 with Ahmed Shezad (46 from 25 balls) laid the platform for a late onslaught and a total of well over 200 seemed on the cards with five overs to go.
Tidy death bowling from Rory Kleinveldt (2-27) and Chris Morris (2-35) restricted the final total and there was a sense that the Proteas could make a decent fist of the run chase in almost ideal batting conditions.
Henry Davids (7) mistimed a drive at a Junaid Khan slower ball and skipper Faf du Plessis (6) edged a drive against Gul to ‘keeper Kamran Akmal.
But the heart was ripped out of the innings in the fifth and seventh overs when Gul removed three consecutive middle-order batsmen for first-ball ducks.
Pinch-hitter Morris was caught slashing to third man, Justin Ontong was trapped lbw and Farhaan Behardien caught at cover point.
AB de Villiers flourished all-too briefly in his new role as opener before dragging a delivery from giant Mohammad Irfan back on to his stumps for 36 from just 22 balls.
At 67-7 the Proteas briefly threatened a place among the lowest T20 scores of all time but Kleinveldt spared their blushes with a four and three sixes in a score of 22 from just six balls to help the team to three figures.
The five-match Momentum ODI series begins in Bloemfontein next Sunday.
