An injury-plagued South African squad, missing seven key players, pulled off a spectacular 55-run victory against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 International on Tuesday. This stunning upset silenced the massive home crowd that had eagerly gathered to witness Babar Azam’s return to T20I action.
Pakistan’s chase of 195 runs never truly gained momentum, ultimately collapsing for just 139 in 18.1 overs. The disciplined bowling attack led by Corbin Bosch, who claimed an impressive 4 wickets for only 14 runs, and George Linde, with 3 wickets for 31 runs, proved to be a masterclass in stifling the opposition. This spirited effort handed the Proteas a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the remaining games set to be played in Lahore.
The night’s hero for South Africa was undoubtedly Reeza Hendricks, whose fluent 60 runs off just 40 balls provided the backbone of the innings. His knock included five fours and a six. Debutant Tony de Zorzi added a burst of excitement with a quickfire 33 off 16 deliveries, while Linde contributed significantly with 36 off 22 balls, propelling the Proteas to a strong total of 194/9 after a blistering powerplay start that saw them score 74 runs.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz managed to briefly slow down South Africa’s scoring with his 3 wickets for 26 runs, but the home team’s top order once again crumbled under pressure. All eyes were on Babar Azam, making his T20I comeback after a ten-month hiatus, but the star batsman was dismissed for a second-ball duck, offering a straightforward catch to Hendricks. The Rawalpindi crowd, which had been buzzing with excitement moments earlier, was left in stunned silence.
Only Saim Ayub, with 37 off 28 balls, and Mohammad Nawaz, with 36 off 20, offered any significant resistance, but Bosch’s pace and Linde’s clever bowling tactics ensured Pakistan could never get close to the target.
Skipper Donovan Ferreira, who stepped in to captain the side due to David Miller’s injury, lauded his team’s calm and collective performance. He remarked, “It was a collective effort — Reeza held it together, George exploded, and Bosch was exceptional with his energy and accuracy.”
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed his disappointment over yet another batting collapse, admitting, “We’re losing wickets too quickly and need partnerships.”
This defeat further highlights Pakistan’s ongoing struggles in the shortest format of the game and places immense pressure on Babar Azam to rally his team and inspire a rapid turnaround as the series moves to Lahore.