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Babar Azam flops on return as Hendricks, Bosch-inspired South Africa take 1-0 lead

Aakash Saini

Reeza Hendricks helped South Africa beat Pakistan [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]Reeza Hendricks helped South Africa beat Pakistan [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]

South Africa demolished hosts Pakistan in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Babar Azam failed to make the most of his T20I return, with South African opener Reeza Hendricks overshadowing the Pakistani legend through a match-winning half-century.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the first T20I of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa, as it panned out at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, October 28.

Reeza Hendricks and George Linde fuel SA up to 194

South Africa batted first and charted 194-9 from 20 overs, with opening batter Quinton de Kock smearing 23 quick runs at the top from just 13 balls. His partner Reeza Hendricks compiled 60 off 40 with five boundaries and a six to top-score in the innings. Tony de Zorzi at number three made 33 from 16, while George Linde turbo-charged the Proteas in the slog overs with his blistering 22-ball 36.

For Pakistan, spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked up three big wickets in the middle overs to claim tight figures of 3-26 in the high-scoring innings. Pacemen Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah both picked up a wicket each, albeit in the death overs. Part-timer Saim Ayub also snared two wickets, including one in the powerplay.

Corbin Bosch and George Linde skittle Pakistan

Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan (24 off 19) and Saim Ayub (37 off 28) got off to splendid starts at the top, but both cricketers failed to capitalize in the run-chase as they were dismissed by Lizaad Williams and George Linde respectively. Babar Azam at number three recorded a two-ball duck on his T20I return, and the rest of the middle-order also failed to complement Pakistan’s early momentum as the hosts slipped from 31-0 to 139 all out in 18.1 overs, thus falling 55 runs short of their target.

For South Africa, Corbin Bosch unfurled the spell of the match with exceptional figures of 4-14 from his four overs. George Linde also nabbed three to claim 3-31 while Lungi Ngidi and Williams picked up three wickets between them as the Proteas took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.