A strong chase from the Pakistan women allowed them to cruise to a seven-wicket win over Proteas women in the second T20I at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday evening.
Having set the hosts 151 to win after managing 150 for three in their innings, the Proteas bowlers then came up short as Pakistan powered to 156 for three at the start of the final over to win with five balls to spare.
The result seals a series win for Pakistan with the third and final game to be battled out on Monday, where the Proteas will hope to pick up some momentum ahead of the ODI series.
The Pakistan chase was setup by a superb 61 off 44 balls (6x4; 1x6) from opener Sidra Amin, while an unbeaten 54-run fourth wicket partnership between Muneeba Ali, 26 of 15 (2x4; 1x6) and Aliya Riaz, 31 off 18 (2x4; 2x6) perfectly finished off the match in style for the hosts.
The chase got off to a shaky start with just two off the first over, followed by Amin being let off on just two in the second as she pulled a ball from Ayabonga Khaka to deep square leg, where Marizanne Kapp made good ground but dropped her for six.
Amin took her chance immediately, smashing back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba at the start of the fourth over, but the last ball produced the breakthrough as Shawaal Zulfiqar (4) skied the ball to Tazmin Brits, with them on 23 for one.
Amin and Bismah Maroof, 27 off 26 balls, then took charge of the chase as they shared in a strong 68-run second wicket stand off 53 balls to put their side into a great position.
Pakistan were well placed on 75 for one at the halfway mark, before moving to 91 for one in the 13th over, before the two set batters lost their wickets in quick succession as Maroof was bowled by Mlaba and Amin by Tucker as they slipped to 102 for three in the 15th over.
The Proteas may have felt a flicker of hope at that stage, but this just brought Ali and Riaz to the crease and they powered their side to a confident win.
PROTEAS INNINGS
In the Proteas innings, the top three managed runs, but only opener Laura Wolvaardt scored at a decent enough pace as she scored 41 off 34 balls (6x4), while Brits reached 46 off 48 (2x4; 1x6) and Kapp, 26 off 24 (2x4).
Their got their innings off to an okay start with 11 coming off the first two overs, before Wolvaardt looked to open up in the third as she clattered Fatima Sana for three boundaries - 14 coming off the over.
At the end of the fourth over, Wolvaardt then received a let off on 15 as she skied a ball from Diana Baig to point where captain Nida Dar dropped what should have been a straightforward take.
She immediately took advantage as the final over of the powerplay from Baig saw Wolvaardt crack back to back fours, while Brits also got in on the action with a boundary of her own, as 15 came off it leaving them well placed on 46 without loss.
The openers kept the scoreboard ticking as they moved to 72 without loss at the halfway mark, but in the next over, Wolvaardt had to depart as she skied Nashra Sandhu to Sana to depart for a well-played 41.
New batter Kapp and Brits then struggled for runs as the Pakistan spinners strangled them with some good bowling, as they moved to 110 for one after 16 overs.
It was tough innings over all for Brits as she showed flashes of brilliance, including hitting the only six of the innings, but she was finally undone as she tried to club one down the ground only to find Maroof off the bowling of Sadia Iqbal, leaving them on 113 for two after 17 overs.
The Proteas finally managed to cash in over the final three overs, as 11 came off the 18th and 12 off the 19th, although Kapp was also run out in the penultimate over.
The final over saw Nadine de Klerk (21no off 11 balls - 4x4) show off her power hitting as she smashed three fours with 14 coming off Sana’s over, letting the Proteas reach the 150 mark again.
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Britz, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Delmi Tucker, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas
PAKISTAN: Nida Dar (capt), Shawal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof, Muneeba Ali (wk), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Umme Hani, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal