KARACHI (Web-Desk) – Pakistan will face South Africa in the final and decisive match of the three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, today (Saturday).
The match is set to begin at 8 PM, with the series tied 1-1, making this a thrilling decider.
A day earlier, Pakistan stage a comeback into the series with a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa after a clinical all-round display led by pacer Salman Mirza and opener Saim Ayub.
Chasing a modest 111-run target in a packed stadium, Pakistan cruised home in just 13.1 overs, courtesy of a scintillating 71 not out off 38 balls from Saim, who struck six fours and five sixes.
The left-hander combined in an unbroken 58-run stand with Babar Azam (11 not out) after Sahibzada Farhan’s brisk 28 off 23 balls had set the tone.
During his knock of 11, Babar also became the highest run-getter in T20Is, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s record of 4231 runs in 159 matches.
Earlier, Pakistan’s pace attack ripped through South Africa’s batting order, bowling out the visitors for 110 in 19.2 overs. Right-arm quick Faheem Ashraf starred with figures of four for 23, while Salman Mirza – playing his first T20I in Lahore after coming into the side in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi – made an instant impact with three for 14 in his four overs.
South Africa never recovered from Salman’s early double strike, which removed Reeza Hendricks for a duck and Tony de Zorzi for seven. Despite a quickfire 25 off 16 balls from Dewald Brevis, the tourists kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Faheem’s sharp bursts accounted for skipper Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, and Ottneil Baartman, tightening Pakistan’s grip on the game.
Only Lungi Ngidi provided some late fireworks with an unbeaten seven off three balls, including a six, as South Africa were bowled out in the final over.
Saim took on the bowlers from the start, targeting Ottneil Baartman for three sixes in one over, while Babar anchored the chase calmly.
Following the T20I series, both teams will face off in a three-match ODI series starting on November 4 in Faisalabad.
