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Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam's T20I return was forgettable as he fell for a two-ball duck in the run chase. In the series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, pace-bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch who faced a one-year Pakistan Super League (PSL) ban for breaching the contract and joining Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI), registered an economical four-wicket haul to bowl out hosts for 139 in the run chase of 195. Salman Agha-led side lost to a Donovan Ferreira's underpowered South Africa by 55 runs.
Blazing start for South Africa
Agha won the toss and opted to bowl first. Shaheen Afridi and comeback man Naseem Shah were unimpressive with the new ball. Saim Ayub broke the partnership with Quinton de Kock's wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 23 runs from 13 balls, including five fours. On-debut T20I debut Tony de Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks used the restrictions well and South Africa were 74/1 after powerplay overs. Agha introduced himself into the attack and went for 15 runs. Mohammad Nawaz got the breakthrough by getting Zorzi stumped. He scored 33 runs from 16 balls, including five fours and a six. Dewald Brevis's stay at the crease was short-lived as Nawaz dismissed him for a single-digit score. South Africa were 111/3 after the halfway stage.
Hendricks scores fifty but Pakistan restrict South Africa under 200
Ayub returned and dismissed Matthew Breetzke. Meanwhile, Hendricks continued to play the anchor role. He reached his 18th T20I fifty from 33 balls. Skipper Ferreira could not do much and fell to Nawaz on left-arm spinner's last ball of the spell. Afridi came back into the attack and George Linde hit him for four fours. Abrar Ahmed ended Hendricks' stay at the crease. The opener got bowled in the 18th over. He scored 60 runs from 40 balls, including five fours and a six. In the penultimate over, Naseem conceded just five runs and got the wicket of Linde. He scored 36 runs from 22 balls. In the final over, Afridi got the consolation wicket of Bosch. South Africa could not finish with a flourish as they posted 194/9. Interestingly, Faheem Ashraf did not bowl a single over in the innings.
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Slow and rocky start for Pakistan
In the run chase, Ayub got an early reprieve as Breetzke dropped his catch at sweeper cover. Sahibzada Farhan hit Lungi Ngidi for three fours. But flow of boundaries in the powerplay overs was stemmed and it led to Lizaad Williamson dismissing Farhan for a 19-ball 24 in the fifth over. In the next over, Babar went against his nature and played across the line. He got caught at cover for a two-ball duck. Pakistan were 34/2 after the powerplay overs. Ayub hit the first six of the innings in the seventh over to break the shackles. In his next over, Bosch got captain Agha trapped in front of the crease. Ayub tried to push the scoring rate and hit Linde for two consecutive sixes. Pakistan were 70/3 at the halfway stage and required run rate crossed 12 runs per over.
No acceleration in second halfÂ
Ayub hit Linde for another six but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh. The opener played a loose drive to lose his wicket for a 28-ball 37. Ngidi returned to dismissed Hasan Nawaz for a three-ball duck. Then, Linde struck twice in the 13th over, dismissed Usman Khan and Ashraf. Mohammad Nawaz got Pakistan's score over 100 with two fours and a six off Ngidi in the 14th over. Afridi couldn't do much with the bat and got caught and bowled by Bosch. Naseem hit a few boundaries before becoming Bosch's fourth wicket. He conceded just 14 runs and registered the best T20I bowling figures at the venue. On the first ball of the 19th over, Mohammad Nawaz was the last to fall as Pakistan were bowled out for 139. South Africa became the first team to win a T20I against Pakistan at the venue while batting first.
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