A surprise bowling change brought a key wicket and was a crucial factor as South Africa beat Pakistan in a rain-affected first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.
Shortly before a storm broke over the stadium, South African captain Faf du Plessis called up JP Duminy to bowl his off-spinners, and Duminy caught Nasir Jamshed off his own bowling with his third delivery.
Only ten more deliveries were possible before play was halted. Pakistan were 60 for two after 9.1 overs, four runs short of a revised par score after South Africa made 153 for seven in their 20 overs. Jamshed's wicket meant that the target was pushed just out of Pakistan's reach.
Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Amla was bowled by Pakistan captain and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 31 off 20 balls.
De Kock made 43 off 33 deliveries before he was well caught at long-on by Sohail Tanvir off Hafeez.
A third wicket fell to slow bowling in the space of 15 runs when Shahid Afridi bowled Henry Davids for three.
The success of the slower men made it puzzling that Pakistan made a late switch in their team, leaving out their world-class off-spinner Saeed Ajmal at the last minute, causing a delay in the toss.
