Proteas Clinch T20I Series
South Africa 210 for 3 (Hendricks 117, van der Dussen 66*, Jahandad 2-40) beat Pakistan 206 for 5 (Ayub 98*, Azam 31, Irfan 30, Galiem 2-21) by five wickets.
“Proteas Clinch T20I Series” as Reeza Hendricks scored his first T20I century in his tenth year of international cricket. South Africa secured their first bilateral T20I series win since August 2022. They accomplished the third-highest successful chase at SuperSport Park, breaking an eight-series T20I trophy drought over two years. This victory marks Rob Walter’s first T20I series win since he took over the white-ball coaching job in March 2023.
Hendricks’ Century Leads the Charge
After being asked to field first, South Africa conceded the fifth-highest first-innings total at SuperSport Park and chased it down with three balls to spare. “Proteas Clinch T20I Series” as Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen, batting at No.4, formed the backbone of the chase. They shared a third-wicket partnership of 157 off 83 balls. Van der Dussen scored his seventh T20I fifty and hit the winning runs with stand-in captain Heinrich Klaasen at the other end.
Pakistan’s Missed Opportunities
Pakistan relied heavily on the slower ball, but their true downfall lay elsewhere. Despite crossing 200, they could have scored many more. At 103 for 1 after 11 overs and 136 for 4 after 16, they lost momentum. South Africa took 3 for 33 in a crucial five-over period, thanks to debutant Dayyaan Galiem and left-arm spinner George Linde. Despite these setbacks, Pakistan’s innings included two significant partnerships: Babar Azam and Saim Ayub added 87 off 45 balls for the second wicket, while Ayub and Irfan Khan posted 73 off 32 balls for the fifth wicket, pushing their score over 200.
Galiem’s Rollercoaster Debut
Galiem had planned to watch this match, not play in it. He had hospitality suite tickets to enjoy the start of the December holidays with his domestic teammates. However, Anrich Nortje’s broken toe led to Galiem’s unexpected call-up to the national squad. He debuted on his home ground and bowled the new ball. His first over cost just three runs, yet he didn’t bowl again in the powerplay, a decision for Klaasen to explain. Despite dropping Ayub early, Galiem took 2 for 21 in four overs, a promising start to his international career. However, his day wasn’t flawless. At long-on, he dropped a catch, highlighting the highs and lows of his debut.
Sensational Saim Ayub Falls Short
Pakistan experimented with their opening combination, and Ayub made a strong case to continue. Despite a slow start, he exploded with a spectacular takedown of Kwena Maphaka. Ayub’s career-best and first half-century in the format came off 33 balls in the 11th over. However, a cruel twist saw him face only six balls in the last three overs, leaving him stranded on 98.
Jahandad’s Impactful Spells
Replacing wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, Jahandad Khan immediately showed his prowess. His second delivery ended Ryan Rickelton’s innings, and his varied lengths and speeds troubled Matthew Breetzke, leading to another wicket. His effective spell left South Africa 28 for 2 after four overs.
Hendricks’ Match-Winning Performance
A day after being dropped from the ODI side, Hendricks silenced critics by showcasing his skills. He reached his fifty off 29 deliveries and continued his assault, bringing up his century off 54 balls. Hendricks finished with 117 off 63 balls, including seven fours and 10 sixes, putting South Africa on the brink of victory. When he was dismissed, South Africa needed 21 runs off 14 balls, which they easily achieved. “Proteas Clinch T20I Series” with a remarkable performance.
