PAK VS RSA - 1st T20I, South Africa tour of Pakistan, 2021

Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in this three-match series. A quick turnaround and both teams will be back on the road again for the second T20I. The hosts will be eyeing to wrap up the series in a couple of days' time - a feat that they haven't achieved till now against South Africa. Can the Proteas score an equalizer? Join us back on Saturday -- Same time, same venue. Until then, goodbye and goodnight.

Babar Azam | Pakistan captain: The boys put in a great effort. We gave some runs in the PowerPlay but the spinners brought us back in the game. Usman was really good today. There was some grip on the pitch and was assisting the spinners. In the end, the fast bowlers came back to pull it off. It was slow and wasn't coming nicely to the bat initially. Rizwan showed application and was outstanding. We feel confident. We are improving on our fielding as well.

Mohammad Rizwan | Player of the Match: This match was important for us. There was some pressure at the start. We read the pitch well. I try to adjust and improve on my shot-making.

Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa captain: A little bit disappointing with the result. Hopefully we can get things right in the second game. Hopefully, we can take good memories back home.

Usman Qadir: I wanted to bowl dot balls and put pressure on the batsmen. There was some dew on the surface, but we did manage to keep the run-rate down. I was told to bowl slower through the air not to push through and that's exactly what I managed to do

21:49 Local Time, 16:49 GMT, 22:19 IST: A real scare for Pakistan but in the end, they've managed to scrape home. South Africa refused to throw in the towel, showed great courage indeed, Irrespective of missing some of their key players. They had a fabulous start in the chase with the openers putting on a 50-plus partnership. Usman Qadir brought back Pakistan through his twin strikes which saw the visitors losing momentum. Reeza Hendricks kept motoring along despite not getting much support from the other end. Once he fell attempting a suicidal run, it looked like Pakistan would seal it comfortably but Fortuin and Pretorius launched a few hits and kept their team alive. It all came down to 10 from the last two balls but Faheem managed to hold his nerve off the final delivery which helped Pakistan to get over the line by the barest of margins.

Faheem Ashraf to Fortuin, 2 runs, no, he can't. Pakistan win by 3 runs. It was aimed at the toes, Fortuin can only flick it away to deep square leg where the fielder runs around and hunts it down

6 from the last ball. It's all about the nerves.. Can Fortuin do a Javed Miandad?

Faheem Ashraf to Fortuin, FOUR, wow! Brilliant from Fortuin. Just what the doctor ordered for South Africa. It's still not over, folks. Full delivery outside off, Fortuin moves across and scoops it over short fine leg

10 from 2.

Faheem Ashraf to Pretorius, 1 run, very full, slammed to long-off. SINGLE

11 from 3..

Faheem Ashraf to Pretorius, SIX, game on! Unreal from Pretorius. A gentle pick-up shot, hits it down long-on and it sails over the fielder

Faheem Ashraf to Fortuin, 1 run, top class from Ashraf. Toe-crusher, Fortuin clears his front leg and only squeezes it towards long-on

Short third man and fine leg inside the ring.

Faheem Ashraf to Pretorius, 1 run, fullish on off, drilled to long-off. Just a single

Faheem Ashraf [2.0-0-22-1] is back into the attack

19 runs in 6 balls. Faheem will bowl the final over. Can South Africa pull this off?

Shaheen Afridi to Fortuin, 2 runs, lifts this over extra cover. The fielder in the deep slides, almost made a meal and somehow stops it from reaching the fence

Shaheen Afridi to Fortuin, FOUR, did this brush the off-stump? Eish.. almost a perfect yorker from Afridi, Fortuin was getting his bat down at an angle. Manages a thin outside edge and it races away wide of short third man