COLOMBO: Pakistan defeated South Africa by two wickets in a group two Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.
Pakistan restricted the Proteas to 133-6 and then surpassed the target with two balls to spare to make a winning start in the second round.
India and Australia, the other two teams in the group, play in the second match of the double-header at the Premadasa stadium later on Friday night.
Earlier, Pakistan's spinners revelled on a slow wicket to restrict mighty South Africa to 133-6 in a group two Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 in Colombo on Friday.
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.
India and Australia, the other two teams in the group, play in the second match of the double-header at the Premadasa stadium later on Friday night.
