PAK vs SA 3rd T20I statistical preview: Key stats, records and head-to-head ahead of the clash

Pakistan to face South Africa in T20I series decider [Source: @XeeshanQayyum/X.com]

For the series decider, Pakistan will clash with South Africa in the third and final T20I on Saturday, November 1. The match will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore at 8:30 PM IST.

Pakistan

Pakistan pulled off a dominant comeback in the 2nd T20I. After bowling out South Africa for just 110 runs, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam cruised in the chase to wrap things up in 13.1 overs. Faheem Ashraf and Salman Mirza were their stars with the ball, picking 4 and 3 wickets, respectively. Now the series is open for them to crawl back.

South Africa

The Proteas, on the other hand, lost the plot in Lahore despite an impressive win in the first T20I. Only Dewald Brevis showed courage with the bat, scoring 25 runs off 16 balls. 7 batters failed to score in double figures. 

In the second inning, they had nothing to defend, and Saim Ayub’s assault resulted in a humiliating 9-wicket loss. South Africa will have to bounce back from similar conditions in Lahore on Saturday.

PAK vs SA Head-to-head overview

Pakistan and South Africa have faced each other 26 times in T20Is. The contests have been closely fought, as both teams have won 13 games each.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore pitch report

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch has traditionally been batting-friendly. But the second T20I witnessed a low-scoring game. Hence, the series decider is expected to be challenging for batters.

The average first-innings score here is 166, with 20 out of 32 matches won by teams batting first. Fast bowlers may find swing under lights, and spinners could play a role in the middle overs as the surface dries out.

Pakistan and South Africa probable playing XI

Pakistan

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed

South Africa

Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi

Top run-scorers in PAK vs SA T20Is

We are only considering the players from the current squad

Babar Azam - 458 runs 

Babar Azam has scored 458 runs in 15 T20Is against South Africa, including 37.71 average, one century and two fifties.

Reeza Hendricks - 390 runs

South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks has piled up 390 runs in 9 innings vs Pakistan, averaging 43.33 with three half-centuries.

Saim Ayub - 237 runs

Pakistan’s young opener Saim Ayub has also hit 237 runs in 4 T20Is vs South Africa. Importantly, he has a staggering average of 118.50 and 171.73 strike rate, including 2 fifties.

Top wicket-takers in PAK vs SA T20Is 

We are only considering the players from the current squad

Shaheen Afridi - 14 wickets

Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi has a strong record against South Africa, with 14 wickets in 13 T20Is at an average of 27.42 and an economy rate of 7.83.

Faheem Ashraf - 12 wickets

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf now has 12 wickets vs South Africa in 11 T20Is with 22.91 average, 9.37 economy and a four-wicket-haul.

George Linde - 11 wickets

South African all-rounder George Linde has quietly built an impressive record versus Pakistan, taking 11 wickets in just 8 T20Is at an average of 16.90 and economy of 7.44.

PAK vs SA key stats

Pakistan key records

• Babar Azam is the highest run-scorer in men’s T20I history at 4234 runs. He is slowly regaining form and has a strong record vs Proteas with 458 runs in previous matchups.
• Babar also has scored a record 733 runs in T20Is at Gaddafi Stadium, his home ground, with 43.11 average, 134.99 strike rate, one hundred and five fifties.
• Saim Ayub hammered 71* off just 38 balls, including 5 sixes in the second T20I. He is slowly becoming a nightmare for South Africa, which is a positive sign for Pakistan ahead of the third T20I.
• While Shaheen Afridi was rested, Faheem Ashraf stood up to take a four-wicket-haul as his tally against South Africa soared up to 11 wickets.
• Babar Azam vs George Linde - 37 runs, 33 balls, 1 dismissal
• Saim Ayub vs George Linde - 46 runs, 22 balls, 1 dismissal
• Quinton de Kock vs Naseem Shah - 11 runs, 7 balls, 1 dismissal

South Africa key records

• Reeza Hendricks, though he flopped in the second T20I, has scored 98 runs at Lahore previously. 
• Quinton de Kock is South Africa’s most successful T20I batter at 2608 runs. Against Pakistan alone, he has amassed 170 runs in 7 T20Is.
• Dewald Brevis is showing signs of improvement, scoring 25 runs in the second T20I after just 9 runs in the first game at Rawalpindi.
• Brevis has also hit 374 runs in 12 T20Is played in 2025 alone with 37.40 average, 193.78 strike rate, one hundred and as many fifty.
• Babar Azam vs Lungi Ngidi - 3 runs, 7 balls, 1 dismissal
• Saim Ayub vs Corbin Bosch - 6 runs, 7 balls, 0 dismissals
• Dewald Brevis vs Abrar Ahmed - 16 runs, 6 balls, 0 dismissals
• South Africa have played 4 T20Is at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, winning just 1 while losing 3 contests.

Records that can be broken in PAK vs SA 3rd T20I

• Saim Ayub is 39 runs away from completing 1000 T20I runs.
• Reeza Hendricks is 1 run away from completing 2500 T20I runs.

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