South Africa Dominates Pakistan with Stunning Collapse as Babar Falls for Duck in T20 Comeback

Basio badr

ago 1 day

South Africa Dominates Pakistan with Stunning Collapse as Babar Falls for Duck in T20 Comeback

South Africa showcased a dominant performance in their opening T20 match against Pakistan, winning by 55 runs. The match took place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where a crowd of 16,000 gathered to witness the action. Pakistan’s struggles were highlighted by Babar Azam’s unfortunate return to T20, as he was dismissed for a duck.

Match Overview

South Africa batted first after winning the toss, setting a target of 194 runs, and then bowled out Pakistan for just 139 runs. Captain Donovan Ferreira led South Africa in the absence of injured David Miller. The team’s batting foundation was built by Reeza Hendricks, who scored 60 runs off 40 balls, and George Linde, who contributed 36 runs off 22 balls.

Babar Azam’s Return

Babar Azam returned to T20 cricket after missing previous matches.
He aimed to break Rohit Sharma’s record of 4,231 T20 runs.
Dismissed for a duck after just two balls, catching the crowd by surprise.

South Africa’s Bowling Dominance

Corbin Bosch was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for just 14 runs. Linde also played a crucial role, securing three wickets for 31 runs. Their combined efforts dismantled the Pakistani lineup, who couldn’t recover after losing early wickets.

Pakistan’s Struggles

Saim Ayub was the top scorer for Pakistan with 37 runs off 28 balls.
Mohammad Nawaz managed 36 runs off 20 balls, but overall the team struggled.
Pakistan lost two wickets in the first six overs, including Babar Azam early on.

Captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged the team’s issues, stating they need better partnerships to chase down such totals. Despite showing some resilience in the bowling department, where spinners like Nawaz took three wickets, the performance fell short.

Looking ahead

The T20 series continues with two matches scheduled in Lahore on Friday and Saturday. Following that, the teams will compete in a three-match ODI series in Faisalabad from November 4 to 8. Both teams will look to adjust their strategies moving forward, especially Pakistan as they seek to bounce back after this disappointing opener.