Copyright pakobserver
RAWALPINDI – South Africa thrashed Pakistan by 55 runs in the T20I series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing a decent 195-run target for victory, Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for 139 in 18.1 overs. Saim Ayub was the highest scorer for the hosts with 37 runs, followed by Mohammad Nawaz, who made 36. Sahibzada Farhan contributed 24 and Usman Khan 12. No other batter could enter the double figures. Corbin Bosch took four wickets, George Linde three and Lizaad Williams two, while Lungi Ngidi took one wicket. George Linde was named player of the match. After being asked to bat first by Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, South Africa reached 194/9 in their allocated 20 overs. Reeza Hendricks was the highest scorer for South Africa with 60 off 40 balls, hitting five fours and one maximum. Jorge Linde contributed a valuable 36 runs off 22 balls, laced with four fours and one huge six. Debutant Tony de Zorzi made 33 off 16 balls, Quinton de Kock 23 off 13 balls and skipper Donovan Ferreira 10 off 12 balls. Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets and Saim Ayub two, while Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi took one wicket each. Lizaad Williams was run out on the last ball of the innings. South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock(wk), RR Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, D Brevis, MP Breetzke, D Ferreira (capt), George Linde, C Bosch, LB Williams, N Burger, Lungi Ngidi. Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Agha Salman (capt), Usman Khan(wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed Star batter Babar Azam has made a comeback in the side in the shortest format after nearly a one-year gap. He needed only nine runs to surpass India’s Rohit Sharma as the leading run scorer in the T20Is. For South Africa, wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock has also made a comeback after a one-year break. He had retired from international cricket one year ago.
