LAHORE – Pakistani bowlers flaunted their A-game of precision and pace to dismantle South Africa’s batting lineup, restricting Proteas to just 139 for nine in the series-deciding third T20I at a packed Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Captain Salman Ali Agha’s bold call to bowl first paid off handsomely, as his side unleashed a relentless bowling assault that left the Proteas gasping for momentum. Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone for Pakistan’s dominance with a devastating opening burst.
The left-arm pacer struck twice in his very first over, removing both Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for golden ducks, silencing visitors dugout and electrifying crowd.
From there, the visitors struggled to recover. Dewald Brevis and Reeza Hendricks attempted to steady the innings with a watchful 38-run partnership, but debutant Usman Tariq broke through in the eighth over, dismissing Brevis for 21 off 22 balls.
The pressure only mounted as Mohammad Nawaz cleaned up Matthew Breetzke in the next over, leaving South Africa tottering at 42 for four.
Proteas captain Donovan Ferreira tried to counterattack with a blistering 14-ball 29, launching three towering sixes and a four to momentarily lift his side’s hopes. However, Faheem Ashraf snuffed out the fightback, removing Ferreira and George Linde off consecutive balls in a superb double strike that ripped through the middle order.
Amid the carnage, Reeza Hendricks remained defiant with a patient 34 off 36 balls before falling to debutant Tariq in the 15th over. Later, Corbin Bosch offered some late resistance, remaining unbeaten on 30 from 23 balls and sharing a 23-run stand with Andile Simelane (13).
It was Pakistan’s bowlers who ruled the night — Shaheen Afridi leading the charge with 3 for 26, while Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq claimed two wickets each. Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Mirza added one apiece to cap off a commanding performance.
With South Africa bundled out for a below-par total, Pakistan now have a golden opportunity to wrap up the series on home soil — a perfect stage for their emerging stars to shine alongside their returning heroes.
The final and decisive T20I between Pakistan and South Africa is underway at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the series levelled at 1-1. Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and elected to bowl first in what is a must-win clash for both sides.
South Africa took an early lead in the series by comfortably winning the first T20I by 55 runs, displaying dominance with both bat and ball. Men in Green bounced back in the second game, registering a nine-wicket victory. Young opener Saim Ayub stole the show with a brilliant unbeaten 71 off 38 balls, guiding his team to victory. The home side will once again rely on the in-form left-hander to anchor the chase if required.
The outcome of today’s match will decide the series, with the winner taking home a 2-1 triumph. Earlier, the two-match Test series between the two nations ended in a 1-1 draw, adding more intensity to this T20 finale.
Weather and Pitch Report
The weather in Lahore is clear, with no chance of rain disrupting play. Dew could play a significant role in the latter half of the game, providing some advantage to the team batting second. The pitch is expected to ease out as the match progresses, making batting conditions more favorable later in the evening.
Pakistan vs South Africa Squads
Pakistan: Salman Agha (C), Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.
South Africa: Donovan Ferreira (C), Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman.
With both teams evenly matched and the series on the line, fans can expect an exciting and high-stakes contest in Lahore as Pakistan aim to defend home turf and South Africa look to end their tour on a winning note.
