T20 WC 2012: Pakistan beat South Africa as Umar Gul Shines

COLOMBO (By AFP, September 28, 2012): Pakistan won against South Africa by two wickets in a group two Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.

South Africa had made 133 at a loss of six wickets.

Pakistan chased the score with just two balls remaining.

Umar Akmal scored the highest for Pakistan with 43 runs followed by Umar Gul with 32.

In the first innings, Skipper Mohammad Hafeez picked up two wickets with his off-spin as Pakistan used four spinners to keep the runs in check after South Africa won the toss and elected to bat at the Premadasa stadium.

Seamers Yasir Arafat and Umar Gul shared three wickets as the batsmen tried to hit out against them after failing to play the slow bowlers.

South Africa, the top-ranked side in the Twenty20 format, were reduced to 28-3 in 6.1 overs before recovering through skipper AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.

Left-handed Duminy top-scored with 48 off 38 balls, while de Villiers made 25, but no other batsman reached 20.

Pakistan struck in the second over when Arafat had the in-form Hashim Amla caught in the covers for six, after the opener survived a stumping chance in the first over sent down by spinner Raza Hasan.

Saeed Ajmal bowled Richard Levi with his second delivery and Hafeez removed danger man Jacques Kallis with his first ball, caught in the covers.

Hafeez claimed another wicket in his final over when Farhaan Behardien, who made 18, charged down the wicket and was stumped by Kamran Akmal in the 13th over.

Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi conceded just 26 runs each in their four overs of spin.