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South Africa ease past Pakistan in Abu Dhabi T20

October 27, 2010 14:18 IST

Pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe and off-spinner Johan Botha took three wickets each as South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets in a Twenty20 international clash in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The victory gave the Proteas a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The match was in aid of the flood victims in Pakistan.

A career-best 3 for 16 by Tsotsobe, and skipper Botha's 3 for 31 restricted Pakistan to a paltry 119.

Jean-Paul Duminy then hit an elegant 41 while Colin Ingram remained unbeaten with 46 as South Africa cruised to the target after losing three early wickets for 26.

Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan hope with the quick wickets of opener Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers in the third over.

Ingram hit two towering sixes and four boundaries during his 38-ball knock, while Duminy hit five boundaries as the two dominated the Pakistan bowling which initially looked threatening.

Earlier, Tsotsobe and off-spinner Botha bowled tight spells  to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted on a flat pitch.

Misbah-ul-Haq, recalled after being axed following the World Twenty20 in May, top-scored with 27, inclusive of a six and two boundaries.

Skipper Shahid Afridi hit a rapid seven-ball 25 before he became one of Botha''s three victims.

Pakistan's home series has been shifted to United Arab Emirates due to security concerns back home.

The teams meet in a second Twenty20 before playing the first of two one-day internationals and the second Test in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai will stage the last three ODIs and the first Test.

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