Babar Azam's 58-ball 90 went in vain in the second T20I against South Africa © AFP

That Pakistan's chase of another mammoth score was on till the penultimate ball was because of Babar Azam's sublime 58-ball 90. What particularly embellished his innings was how he caressed the ball to get his 14 boundaries instead of going for the big heaves - which are an inherent part of almost every T20 innings. But, that innings, which made one run out of superlatives with every boundary, isn't the best of what Babar has to offer. At least, that's what his head coach Mickey Arthur feels.

"I have never doubted Babar. I said two years ago that he was going to be that good," Arthur said after Pakistan fell seven runs short in a chase of 189. "The exciting thing is that we haven't seen the best of him yet. He is going to get better and better. There were always question marks on Babar's ability to perform outside subcontinent. He has been unbelievable on this tour and he has put those questions to rest."

It was under Arthur's coaching that Babar was introduced as a T20 opener at Karachi Kings during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League. Since that edition, Babar has been the highest run-getter in the format at the international level and averages 52.15 (the most for any batsman above 500 runs since the second PSL final). Needless to say that he is currently the number one batsman in the format.

"Two years ago when I saw him in the nets I said that he was going to be as good as Virat Kohli. From a young boy back then he has developed into a man now. He has got stronger and fitter. And, I certainly think he is going to be in the top five in the world across all formats very, very soon."

That South Africa managed to put a huge total for the second time on a row should be worrisome for a side like Pakistan that has the record for bowling out oppositions for the most number times. One a pitch that gripped and was on the slower side, Pakistan's pacers - Usman Khan and Hasan Ali - banged the ball short and were taken 111 runs in eight overs. Usman, particularly, bowled poor and his worst bowling effort came in the last over of South African innings, giving away 29 runs which effectively shifted the momentum in favour of the hosts.

"To be brutally honest with ourselves, I think we batted brilliantly but bowled poorly as a unit apart from Imad Wasim [who returned 1 for 9 in four overs]. We did not execute our plans. I think we gave away 64 runs off the short balls when the plan was to bowl full and wicket-to-wicket. The execution in the last over particularly was poor."

Shaheen Afridi's 1 for 27 and Hussain Talat's second consecutive score of forty augur well for Pakistan's future T20 plans. Arthur termed the youngsters stepping up in pressure situations "a win" for Pakistan. But, that Pakistan's 11-series-long wining streak came to an end with the loss at Johannesburg left him disappointed.

"They [South Africa] bowled the second ten overs better than the first ten," Arthur said. "They got it right by taking the pace off the ball. For a neutral it has been two hell of a good games. But, for us it hasn't been good. We need to reflect and move on. The key is that we gave younger players opportunities to grow in pressure situations. That certainly is a win for us.

"Apart from the last over we were good. There were little moments in the first four games [ODIs] where both sides could've won. Our one-day cricket is good though. You've got to understand that we were outside our conditions. I am disappointed that we had not lost a T20I series in the last 11. We are a side that really pride on its cricket. So, this defeat is disappointing."