Cruising at 1-92 in the 10th over while chasing 145, Pakistan lost five wickets in quick succession to slip to 6-115 in the 15th over.

That ensured a tense finish in the tour finale at SuperSport Park.

No.8 Mohammad Nawaz saw the tourists home, hitting 25 not out from 21 balls at the death, including two crucial sixes in the last two overs.

Pakistan needed 16 from the last 12 balls and, with the pressure building, Nawaz whipped a six over square leg off the fifth ball of the 19th over, then pulled another six in the same direction off the fifth ball of the 20th over.

That clinched the win in style with a ball to spare when Pakistan needed two from the last two deliveries.

The visitors finished 7-149 in response to South Africa's 144 all out in 19.3 overs.

Batting at No.3, Fakhar Zaman continued his red-hot form with 60 from 34 to put Pakistan on course for T20 victory, the visitors having already won the one-day international contest.

South Africa, 2-1 down and striving to save the T20 series, struggled after being put in to bat, with only Rassie van der Dussen troubling Pakistan with his 52 from 36 balls.

Van der Dussen fell in the 14th over when he was caught trying to pull one over mid-wicket and that prompted a South African collapse from 3-112 to all out for 144 in the space of six overs.

South Africa's last eight batsmen contributed just 36 runs between them.

Faheem Ashraf took 3-17 and Hasan Ali 3-40 to lead an outstanding bowling performance by Pakistan that set up the series win.

Australian Associated Press