South Africa Crush Pakistan in Rawalpindi Thriller
What a night it was in Rawalpindi! The much-anticipated 1st T20I between Pakistan and South Africa turned into a masterclass in disciplined bowling and fearless hitting, as the Proteas stormed to a 55-run victory. This win not only gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but also made them the first team ever to defend a total successfully against Pakistan in a T20I at this venue.
Pakistan, chasing a target of 195, never really found their footing. The openers began with some promise — Sahibzada Farhan looked fiery early on, smashing quick boundaries to raise hopes among the home fans. But that glimmer faded quickly. Lizaad Williams ended Farhan’s short-lived assault, and soon after, Babar Azam — returning to the T20I setup — fell for a two-ball duck to Corbin Bosch. From there, it was all downhill for Pakistan.
Saim Ayub tried to stabilize the innings, adding a few crisp boundaries and putting up 36 runs after the powerplay, but South Africa’s bowlers kept tightening the screws. The Proteas’ pace battery, led by the brilliant Corbin Bosch, was relentless. Bosch bowled a stunning spell, taking 4 wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs, including 17 dot balls — a performance that broke Pakistan’s rhythm entirely. George Linde also chipped in with three wickets, keeping the middle order under constant pressure.
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Pakistan’s chronic issue in T20 cricket — their inability to rotate strike — resurfaced again. Dot balls piled up, pressure mounted, and one by one, wickets fell. The middle order couldn’t absorb the blows, leaving Mohammad Nawaz to fight a lone battle at the end. His quickfire 36 off 19 balls, featuring some lusty blows, added brief excitement, but it was far too late. Pakistan’s innings folded for 139 in 18.1 overs, handing South Africa a massive 55-run win.
Earlier, when Pakistan had won the toss and opted to bowl, things initially seemed promising. But Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks came out firing, treating the opening overs like a power-hitting drill. Even though Saim Ayub dismissed de Kock early, debutant Tony de Zorzi and Hendricks ensured South Africa posted a strong platform — 74 runs in the powerplay. Hendricks went on to anchor the innings, reaching a fine half-century.
The Pakistani spinners — especially Nawaz and Ayub — pulled things back admirably in the middle overs, causing a brief collapse that saw South Africa go from cruising at 139/5 to ending at 194/9. Still, that total proved more than enough.
For Pakistan, this loss will sting. Their bowling, though promising in patches, lacked the consistency South Africa displayed. Their batting once again showed old habits — poor strike rotation, early collapses, and an inability to handle scoreboard pressure.
For South Africa, though, it was a statement win — clinical, confident, and complete. If this game was any indication, the Proteas are here not just to compete, but to dominate.
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