At the 2012 World Twenty20, Umar Gul turned an unlikely hero with the bat as Pakistan survived a middle-order collapse to beat South Africa by two wickets in the Super Eights.

Gul, who is currently out-of-favour with the Pakistan selectors, had had a forgetful day with the ball when South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The right-arm pacer recorded figures of 2-19-1 even as AB de Villiers' side were restricted to 133 from their 20 overs, courtesy the spin quartet of Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Raza Hasan and Saeed Ajmal.

In the chase, Pakistan slumped to 76-7 in the 15th over before Gul and Umar Akmal combined to share a match-winning partnership of 49 in 27 balls.

Gul smashed two fours and three sixes in his 32 off 17 balls in a pulsating match that Pakistan won with two balls to spare.