Proteas win warm-up match but Shamsi limps off with niggle

Even without the No 1 T20 bowler in the world or much contribution from Quinton de Kock, South Africa enjoyed a highly encouraging dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup as they beat Pakistan by six wickets off the last ball of their warm-up match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi bowled just four balls in the match before going off the field with a tight groin, and not playing any further part in the game.

And his absence was felt as Pakistan amassed 186 for six in their 20 overs.

But thanks to Rassie van der Dussen’s magnificent 101 not out off just 51 balls, the Proteas reached their target, with he and David Miller scoring the 19 runs required off the last over bowled by Hasan Ali.

Van der Dussen’s brilliantly-paced innings came after South Africa made a shaky start, losing both De Kock (six) and Reeza Hendricks (seven) to spinner Imad Wasim in the third over.

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It was captain Temba Bavuma, this time batting No 4, who helped steady the innings in a partnership of 107 in 12 overs.

Bavuma was dismissed with five overs to go and 65 runs needed, having scored 46 off 42 balls. Opinions will probably be divided as to whether he made his runs quickly enough, but his tenacity and calmness under pressure cannot be questioned.

Heinrich Klaasen helped keep the Proteas in the hunt with his 14 off eight deliveries before Van der Dussen started the final over with a six, Miller launched the third ball out the ground and Van der Dussen struck boundaries off the last two deliveries.

In terms of the Proteas bowling, Kagiso Rabada performed well, conceding just 28 runs in his four overs, with the added bonus of three wickets.

Lungi Ngidi (3-0-17-0) and spinner Keshav Maharaj (3.2-0-25-1) were also tidy, but leaking would be the verb to describe the bowling of Bjorn Fortuin (3-0-41-0), Anrich Nortje (4-0-44-1) and Wiaan Mulder (2-0-23-0).

Fakhar Zaman led the Pakistan batting with a sparkling 52 off 28 balls before retiring, while Asif Ali added the finishing touches with 32 off just 18 deliveries.