A Roaring Start from the Visitors
When the South Africa national cricket team won the toss and elected to bat first in Rawalpindi, they set the tone immediately. The openers wasted no time: Reeza Hendricks struck a fluent 60 from 40 balls, showing intent and execution. Supporting him were Tony de Zorzi (33 from 16) and George Linde (36 from 22), whose aggressive approaches kept Pakistan’s bowlers on the back foot. The visitors finished with a formidable 194 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan’s Response Fell Flat
Chasing 195 was always going to be tough, but Pakistan’s reply collapsed in disappointing fashion. The home side mustered only 139 all out in 18.1 overs. The heartbreak was early and dramatic: Babar Azam returned to T20 action but fell for a duck, caught by Hendricks off Corbin Bosch. Bosch, meanwhile, delivered a career-best spell of 4 for 14 in four overs — a bowling masterclass under pressure. Pakistan did get resistance from a few quarters (notably Saim Ayub with 37 off 28 and Mohammad Nawaz with 36), but by then the momentum had long slipped away.
What This Means for the Series
With this win, South Africa take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. They arrived in Pakistan already looking well-prepared, and this performance reinforced their intent. For Pakistan, the scoreboard shows not just a defeat but missed opportunities and a top-order that didn’t fire when it mattered. Toss decisions, fielding lapses, and failing to build partnerships all combined into a disturbing picture for the hosts.
Looking Ahead: Questions & Chances
Pakistan’s management and fans will now ask: can the team refocus quickly? The upcoming matches at Lahore will test their character. South Africa, on the other hand, will want to keep up this intensity and avoid complacency. For the home side, re-building confidence means revisiting basics — start strongly with the bat, bowl with discipline, treat wickets as gold.