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Pakistan produced a commanding all-round display to crush South Africa by nine wickets in the second T20 International of the three-match series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. A fiery opening partnership led by Saim Ayub and a clinical bowling performance from the pacers helped Pakistan level the series 1-1, setting up a thrilling finale on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Bowlers Dominate Early
Put into bat, South Africa’s innings never really took off. Pakistan’s pace trio of Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, and Naseem Shah combined beautifully to dismantle the visitors for a mere 111 runs.
Faheem, the star of the attack, registered figures of 4 for 23, showcasing impeccable control and clever variation. Salman Mirza, making a statement in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi, delivered a stunning spell of 3 for 14, while Naseem Shah chipped in with 2 for 28 to complete the demolition.
The carnage began in the very first over when left-arm seamer Salman Mirza struck on just his second delivery, sending back Reeza Hendricks—the hero of the first match—with a perfect in-swinger that rattled the stumps.
South Africa’s troubles deepened when Naseem Shah outfoxed Quinton de Kock with a slower one, safely pouched by Salman Ali Agha at mid-off. Salman then removed Tony de Zorzi with a sharp bouncer caught at deep fine leg, and moments later, Matthew Breetzke was castled by an unplayable off-cutter.
By the end of the powerplay, the Proteas were reeling at 31-4, with Pakistan’s bowlers relentlessly attacking both edges of the bat.
Brevis Offers Resistance — Briefly
The only bright spark for South Africa came through the young sensation Dewald Brevis, who briefly revived hopes with an aggressive cameo. The right-hander struck 25 off 16 balls, including three towering sixes off Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Faheem Ashraf.
However, his counterattack was short-lived. Faheem, maintaining his discipline, pitched one short to deceive Brevis, who mistimed the pull and was caught. From there, South Africa’s innings spiraled downward.
Faheem dismissed Donovan Ferreira, the South African captain, dragging one onto his stumps, before sending back George Linde the same way. Naseem accounted for Corbin Bosch with a snorter outside off, while Abrar Ahmed capped off the collapse by clipping Nandre Burger’s off stump with a clever carrom ball.
South Africa were bundled out for 111 in 19.2 overs, leaving Pakistan’s batters with a modest target.
Saim Ayub Lights Up Gaddafi Stadium
Pakistan’s chase was a display of calm aggression and confidence. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan gave the hosts a fluent start, racing to 49 without loss by the end of the powerplay. Both batted smartly, taking calculated risks and punishing loose deliveries.
However, South Africa managed a brief breakthrough when Corbin Bosch trapped Farhan lbw right at the end of the sixth over. That wicket, though, only fueled the excitement in the stadium as Babar Azam—Pakistan’s batting icon—walked in to a thunderous reception.
Babar wasted no time making his presence felt, threading a scintillating cover drive for four off his first delivery to ignite cheers across Gaddafi Stadium.
A Match of Milestones: Babar’s Record & Saim’s Fireworks
While Saim Ayub continued his onslaught, all eyes turned toward Babar Azam, who was on the brink of a personal milestone. In the 12th over, he nudged a single off Donovan Ferreira to become the highest run-scorer in men’s T20 Internationals, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s tally of 4,231. The crowd erupted as Babar’s name flashed across the giant screen—a moment of pride for Pakistan cricket.
Meanwhile, Saim was in sublime touch. The left-hander unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes, showcasing both finesse and power. He smashed Ottneil Baartman for a massive six over long-on, followed by a fierce cut through the off-side and an audacious flick over midwicket to collect 21 runs in one over.
He reached his first T20I half-century on home soil in just 29 balls, delighting the Lahore faithful. His innings featured six fours and five sixes, as he guided Pakistan to victory in just 13.5 overs, finishing unbeaten on 71 off 38 balls.
Pakistan Roar Back
Pakistan’s emphatic win not only leveled the series but also restored confidence after a shaky start in the first T20I. The combination of lethal pace bowling and aggressive batting underlined the team’s depth and resilience.
With the series now tied 1-1, the stage is set for a decisive third T20I at the same venue, where Pakistan will look to seal the series in front of their passionate home crowd.
