South Africa demolish Pakistan to go 1-0 up in T20I Series

By our correspondent
RAWALPINDI: Reeza Hendricks’ classy 60, Corbin Bosch’s career-best 4-14 and a fine all-round performance from George Linde powered South Africa to a commanding 55-run victory over Pakistan in the opening T20 International at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday night.
The win gave the visitors a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The next two games will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on October 31 and November 1.
Batting first, South Africa posted a strong total of 194-9 in their allotted 20 overs. Hendricks led the charge with a fluent half-century while George Linde (36), Tony de Zorzi (33) and Quinton de Kock (23) made useful contributions.
In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for 139 in 18.4 overs. Medium-pacer Bosch was the chief destroyer with 4-14 in four overs while left-arm spinner Linde chipped in with 3-31 from three.
Chasing a steep target opener Sahibzada Farhan looked in good touch but his partner Saim Ayub was seen struggling at the other end. Farhan struck four boundaries in his 19-ball 24 before being bowled by Lizaad Williams when Pakistan were 31 in the fifth over.
Returning to T20I cricket after a ten-month gap Babar Azam failed to impress, falling for a duck to Bosch, caught by Hendricks at cover leaving Pakistan at 33-2. Bosch soon trapped skipper Agha Salman lbw for 2 to deepen the crisis.
Usman Khan and Saim Ayub offered brief resistance, adding 39 runs for the fourth wicket before Linde dismissed Saim for a 28-ball 37 that included four sixes and a four. The dismissal left Pakistan at 82-4 in the 11th over with the required rate soaring.
Lungi Ngidi then bowled Hasan Nawaz for 3 while Linde struck twice in one over to remove Usman Khan (12) and Faheem Ashraf (1) reducing Pakistan to 89-7 in the 13th over. Bosch returned to dismiss Shaheen Afridi (4) and Naseem Shah (9) while Williams ended the innings by removing Mohammad Nawaz, who had provided some late resistance with a 20-ball 36 featuring two sixes and four fours.
Linde and Bosch were well supported by Williams who finished with 2-21 in 3.1 overs.
After being invited to bat first, South Africa got off to a flying start in front of a packed crowd. Openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock went on an early rampage, producing a flurry of boundaries and adding a brisk 44 runs in just 23 deliveries for the opening wicket. The partnership was broken when Saim Ayub provided a much-needed breakthrough, having De Kock caught by Faheem Ashraf at point for a 13-ball 23, which included five well-timed fours.
Tony de Zorzi, who enjoyed a strong Test series against Pakistan, then joined Hendricks and continued the aggressive approach. The pair put on a rapid 49-run stand off just 23 balls for the second wicket, laying a solid foundation for the visitors. However, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, introduced in the eighth over, struck immediately, having Zorzi stumped by Usman Khan after he came down the pitch. South Africa were 93 for 2 at that stage. Zorzi’s quickfire 16-ball 33 featured five boundaries and a towering six off Agha Salman.
South Africa piled up 74 for 1 in the powerplay, but Nawaz’s introduction slowed their scoring in the middle overs. The spinner bowled superbly, removing Dewald Brevis (9) and Donovan Ferreira (10) to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 26 from his four overs.
Reeza Hendricks anchored the innings with a composed yet enterprising knock, striking five fours and a six in his 40-ball 60. He brought up his 18th T20I fifty off just 33 deliveries before being bowled by leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over.
Towards the end, George Linde played a valuable cameo, smashing 36 off 22 balls with four fours and a six, helping South Africa reach a competitive total of 194 for 9.
The visitors’ progress through the innings was steady. They were 74 for 1 after six overs, 111 for 3 after ten, 145 for 5 after 15, and 194 for 9 at the end of the innings.
Among the bowlers, Nawaz was the standout performer, providing crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. He was well supported by Saim Ayub, who claimed 2 for 31 in his four overs. Shaheen Afridi (1 for 45 in 4 overs) and Naseem Shah (1 for 34 in 3 overs) proved expensive, while Abrar Ahmed (1 for 42) and Agha Salman (15 runs in one over) were the other bowlers who bowled.
Despite conceding just six runs in the opening over from Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s bowlers soon came under attack. Naseem’s first over went for 14 runs, followed by 15 off Shaheen’s next. Abrar conceded 13 in the fifth over, while Naseem leaked 16 in the sixth. Agha Salman’s solitary over went for 15 before Nawaz’s introduction restored some control restricting the scoring rate and picking up wickets at crucial moments.