Shadab Khan's all-round heroics to help Pakistan rekindle their semifinal hopes with a convincing 33-run victory over South Africa in a rain-truncated T20 World Cup match on Thursday (November 3).
Shadab first dazzled with the bat with a magnificent 22-ball 52 to power Pakistan to 185/9 after Babar Azam opted to bat first.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/14) and Shadab (2/16) then blew away the South African top order as the Proteas could manage 108 for 9 in 14 overs. As per DLS method, South Africa were set a revised target of 142 runs in 14 overs after the rain interruption.
Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar rued his batting fiasco in the ongoing T20 World Cup and admitted that he and Mohammad Rizwan were not up to the mark with the willow.
"Very happy the way the team performed. Me and Rizwan were not up to the mark, but the way Haris played, he's a different player and shifted the momentum. Then Shadab and Ifti were outstanding in finishing the innings," Babar was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.
"These are our best players and everyone is ready to play. Everyone is a match-winner. The first two matches were close losses, but we've given 100% in the last two matches and you never know, cricket is a funny game, we hope for the best," he added.
With the win, Pakistan (4 points) moved up to the third spot in group 2 While South Africa (5 points) continued to stay second behind leaders India (6 points).
With South Africa needing 73 off five overs after rain cut short the game by six overs, Tristan Stubbs (18) and Heinrich Klaasen (15) came all guns blazing.
Under the pump, Klaasen slapped Shadab for a a four before hitting Shaheen for back-to-back boundaries through the cow corner and over mid off but couldn't keep the antics going as the left-armer forced an inside edge to claim South Africa's fifth wicket.
South Africa missed the services of their ace batter David Miller who was ruled out due to an injury as the Proteas lost wickets at regular intervals in a bid to hit boundaries and sixes.
