SA vs PAK T20I Series: Top 5 performers from Pakistan’s series victory

After a fascinating three-match ODI series that Pakistan won 2-1, they clinched the four-match T20I series 3-1 to register consecutive series victories against South Africa in their backyard. With the 14th edition of the IPL ongoing, South Africa had many of their major players missing, although Pakistan’s performance was dominating nonetheless. Here’s a look at the top 5 performers –

5. Lizaad Williams (South Africa)

Making his debut through the series, Lizaad Williams finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Pakistan’s Hasan Ali. Taking a wicket in each game, he bagged 7 in the whole series at an average and strike rate of 21 and 13.4, respectively. His best came in the second T20I, where he returned with three wickets.

4. Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

What an over from Hasan Ali!

He snares the wickets of Wiaan Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo ?#SAvPAK | https://t.co/2V8EbCURDm pic.twitter.com/LAq08o3iGU

— ICC (@ICC) April 16, 2021

Hasan Ai finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the series with 7 wickets at an impressive average and strike rate of 18.71 and 12, respectively. Given that as many as three matches of the series were high-scoring encounters, the economy of the majority of the bowlers ended up being on the higher side, but Ali was able to trouble South Africa multiple times during the series.

3. Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

After a forgettable ODI series, where he scored only 42 runs from three innings, Mohammad Rizwan continued his golden form in the 20-over format. The wicketkeeper-batsman was the top-scorer with 197 runs at a staggering average of 98.50 when South Africa travelled to Pakistan in February this year, while he ended up as the third-highest run-getter in the current series with 147 runs at 73.50, including two half-centuries.

2. Aiden Markram (South Africa)

Aiden Markram was at his fluent best in his 63-run knock from 31 deliveries, which included six fours and four sixes in the third T20I. He smacked 51 from 32 and 54 from 30 in the previous two outings to record a hat-trick of half-centuries in the series, scoring a total of 179 runs at a strike rate of 182.65.

1. Babar Azam (Pakistan)

The Pakistan skipper was in fine form in the ODIs, where he scored 228 runs at a massive average of 76. Carrying the same form in the T20Is, Azam smashed 210 runs at a staggering average and strike rate of 52.50 and 143.83, respectively. Through his innings of 122 in the third T20I, Azam now holds the record of having the highest individual score for a Pakistan batsman in the T20I format.