South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I at Centurion, SA v PAK, Apr 14 2021 - Match Result

6.10pm A feast of batting. That's what we watched today, and Pakistan have taken a 2-1 lead in the series. Can they seal a 3-1 win, or will South Africa come back to level the series? We will find out day after tomorrow. Do join us for that. Until then, a warm goodbye from PDP, myself, and Ranjith. Ciao!

Babar Azam, Player of the Match: "I had been waiting for this for a long time, I had planned for a long time, and today Allah has given me a chance to finish it. I stick to my strengths and play according to them, and the team's requirements. Rizwan bhai also played an outstanding innings. He was fasting (for Ramzan), and he batted and he kept wickets, and he was outstanding. We get a lot of confidence and belief looking at him. I also achieved a dream in one-day cricket today (No. 1 ranking). I struggled hard, there was a lot of hard work that went into it. I keep trying to learn and add new things to my game, and I will keep trying to do the same. I think our first six overs, we have to give credit to Malan and Markram for playing outstanding innings, until the 10-over mark, but the way we came back in the last five overs allowed us to restrict them to around 200."

Heinrich Klaasen: "Tough to explain. I thought we were about 10 runs short. Once again maybe lost a bit of momentum at the back end. Credit to them, they batted really well, they made a lot of good balls look bad. Our fielding was pretty bad, a lot of misfields. We've played a lot of cricket at this stadium, I've seen a lot of wickets like this. 200 is not enough on this wicket. It's a very difficult ground on which to defend. We had to score 10-15 runs more to make chasing harder, and then execute in the field. One thing we're guilty of over the last three games, is not one of our batsmen who made 50 went on to make a big score."

Ziyad: "Sarmad and others (including myself tbf) were critical of the decision to open with this pair chasing 200 . We all look very silly now."

Chief Selector: "IPL experience would not count much during world cup as IPL sides are not permanent sides while national sides are well defined and actual teams. However, there was no guarantee that main SA players would have stopped Pakistan's explosive top order. Also, Pakistanis don't play IPL but they seem to be the major force to win it."

Larry: "You have got to feel sorry for SA. First in December against England they made a similar total and then thought they could win but lost, and it happened again today too!" -- This ground is definitely a hard one to defend totals on!

Maryam : "Rizwan is such a happy person, smiles all over the place, there he was Celebrating babars 100 and now greeting all sa players so wholeheartedly."

Shirish Pathak: "a team without their main players scores 203 which is commendable so its a win win for SA to try out some new players before the T20 World Cup."

Hasan: "While we all appreciate Babar's classy innings, lets not forget the role of Rizwan in this chase. Amazing batting performance from him."

5.50pm What a win this is. Pakistan had never chased down a 200-plus target before (this was only their second opportunity to do so, mind you), and they've done it with two whole overs to spare. Babar Azam has played an absolute blinder to lead the way, and Mohammad Rizwan was the perfect foil, on a day when South Africa's bowlers struggled for control in brilliant batting conditions. Babar and Rizwan put on 197, the fourth-highest T20I partnership overall, and the highest ever in a chase.

Fakhar Zaman comes in with Pakistan needing seven to win. Williams continues from over the wicket.

Pakistan were well on course to completing the highest successful chase without the loss of a wicket. For now, New Zealand's 171 for 0 holds onto the record.

Moiz: "2 achievements in a single day for babar. First number 1 odi batsman and now 3rd Pakistani to centuries in all formats."

Jason: "Not to belittle anything but it's so weird to see major SA players playing IPL while there is an international series underway at home. I am sure that's not normal. Did I miss something?" -- Just a sign of the times, I suppose. Plus there's a T20 World Cup to be played in India later this year, so some experience in those conditions for the top players, and a chance for South Africa to try out some new faces too. It's not all bad!

Only 12 required now.

Hamid Shaker: "Correction @KK, this is 4th highest partnership in all T20Is.. " -- It was sixth when I put the link up. It updates real-time :)

Mutawassam: "Sounds and tastes like Eid on first day of Ramzan." -- Ramzan Mubarak to all our readers around the world!

This is now the sixth-highest partnership in all T20Is.

Shakir: "Pakistan Chasing 203, after 15.2 overs, Required Rate is run a ball... Let that sink in first... "

Here's Williams, right-arm over.

Sikandar : "50 off 50 2 days ago 104 of 50 today."

Rauf: "Earlier, I commented but not published that pakistan has conceded 200 only 2nd time but will chase 200 1st time, now it is going to happen."