KARACHI: South Africa beat defending champions Pakistan by 37 runs in the final of the Hong Kong Super Sixes tournament at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, DawnNews reported on Sunday.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field after which they were set a target of 143 runs by the Proteas which they could not reach despite Umar Akmal's 55 runs and Kamran Akmal's 35.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the semi-final. Sri Lanka, batting first, had set a target of 99 runs for Pakistan which it achieved losing just one wicket.

Belligerent batting by the Akmal brothers helped Pakistan reached its target with five balls to spare. Umar Akmal hit five consecutive sixes to take his team to victory while scoring 36 runs off 10 balls. The elder Akmal, Kamran, scored 34 runs off seven deliveries.

In the other matches of the day, Pakistan lost against South Africa and won its match against Hong Kong.

South Africa bowling first restricted Pakistan to 81 runs and successfully chased the target. Umar Akmal scored 36 runs and took two wickets in the match.

In its other match with Hong Kong Pakistan set a target of 96 runs for Hong Kong to win. Hong Kong got off to a bad start which led to its defeat against the defending champions.