Pakistan Sports Journal

Shahid Afridi played a little blinder of 27 of just 7 balls - photo from web

South Africa beats Pakistan in the first T2- match by 6 wickets. Chasing small target of 120 runs South Africa got home easily with the superb innings from JP Duminy and Colin Ingram.

South Africa was got in lots of trouble early in their innings when they lost 3 quick wickets but the Partnership of 66 runs between JP Duminy and Colin Ingram lead South Africa to 1-0 lead in the 2 match series.

South Africa chase down the small total of 120 runs in 18.2 overs with six wickets in hand. Colin Ingram top scored with 46 notout.

38 for 1 in 5 overs was supposed to be the good start for Pakistan but their famous middle order batting collapse happened again and thanks to Afridi can Misbah who took the score over 100 and eventually ended up on 119.

There was nothing spectacular about Pakistan batting innings but the innings from Afridi who gave the spectator something really entertaining. In his 7 balls innings he hit 3 sixes and 1 four which was ended on 27 from just 7 balls. Other than this batting batsman never got going and middle order collapse big time.

Imran Farhat was the first man to get out for Pakistan on 16. Domestic Twenty20 star Shahzaib Hassan failed at international platform once again, he was trying to hit the ball out of Abu Dhabi but got out in the process, Duminy took the superb catch to get rid of him. He went after scoring just 9 runs in 14 balls.

A lot was expected from Umar Akmal but his bad run continues as he got out after making just 14 runs in 21 balls. Razzaq, Hafeez and Zulqurnain, all failed to get a big score.

Misbah was playing very slowly but he ran out of partners in the last over as Shoaib Akhar got runout and innings was finished at 119.

Another batting collapse for Pakistan lead them to disappointment in the end, bowling was as usual great but runs on the board was not enough to restrict the Africans away from the first win of the tour.