Pakistan collapsed from 92 for one to 129 for seven in pursuit of just 145 for victory before finally limping to their target at 149 for seven with just one ball to spare to win by three wickets in the fourth and final T20 International at Supersport Park in Centurion on Friday. The victory gave them the series 3-1.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan was smartly stumped for a second-ball duck but Fakhar Zaman (60 from 34 balls, 5x4, 4x6) and captain Babar Azam (24 from 23 balls) added 92 in just nine overs to put the tourists in complete control of the game before an extraordinary collapse.
Fakhar slashed a Lizaad Williams delivery to Wiaan Mulder at backward point and Babar uppercut the same bowler to Tabraiz Shamsi at third man.
Veteran Mohammad Hafeez (10) inexplicably heaved Shamsi to Williams in the deep and Haider Ali (3) did likewise with a delivery from Andile Phehlukwayo which was well caught by Bjorn Fortuin.
When Asif Ali (5) made a hash of a pull shot against Sisanda Magala and offered a return catch to the bowler, the tourists had imploded in truly astonishing fashion with a succession of wild and completely unnecessary shots with an asking rate of less than a run-a-ball.
Worse was to come when Faheem Ashraf (7) drove Magala to Aiden Markram at mid-on, leaving Pakistan requiring 16 from 10 balls with just three wickets in hand.
But Magala spoiled South Africa’s comeback with a no-ball at a critical moment and Mohammad Nawaz heaved the free hit over deep square leg for six leaving just six runs required from the final over. Williams did well to concede just four runs from the first four deliveries but Nawaz (25* from 21 balls, 1x4, 2x6) pulled the fifth delivery for six to clinch the win.
Rassie van der Dussen earlier scored 52 from 36 balls with five fours and a pair of sixes but South Africa crashed from 73 for one and 109 for two to post a poor total of just 144 all out.
Hasan Ali, whose first over cost 16 runs, bounced back to claim 3-40 and allrounder Ashraf produced an excellent analysis of 4-0-17-3 as the Proteas managed just three double-figure scores between them.
Opener Janneman Malan again looked in good touch for his 33 from 28 balls (3x4, 1x6) before driving Faheem to extra cover and Markram struck a four and a six in his 11 from five balls before being trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Nawaz.
Heinrich Klaasen (9) and debutant Mulder (6) were both caught in the deep while left-handers George Linde (3) and Andile Phehlukwayo (1) were caught by keeper Rizwan.
SOUTH AFRICA: Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Henrich Klaasen (capt & wk), George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi
PAKISTAN: Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (capt & wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Asif Ali, Muhammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf