Pakistan beat South Africa by 4 wickets in first T20I match

JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan beat South Africa by four wickets in a thrilling finish to the first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. 

In pursuit of the target, the opening batsmen of the national cricket team started the innings cautiously and chased the target of 189 with just 1 ball to spare, and now, Pakistan leads the series 1-0. Excluding wins coming via Super Over, this was Pakistan’s 100th win.

Pakistan win the first #SAvPAK T20I by 4 wickets

Scorecard: https://t.co/ot8O8oRMfO

#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/q1jBLixx8A

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 10, 2021

Man-of-the-Match Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan to victory with his unbeaten 74, comprising two sixes and nine fours.

Mohammad Rizwan's last four T20I innings against South Africa
104*
51
42
50* (Today)#SAvPAK | #HarHaalMainCricket | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/vrRFJcvhW9

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 10, 2021

Faheem Ashraf’s 30 off 14 balls also proved to be beneficial for the team in the end. However, the batting lineup otherwise could not produce many runs, as skipper Babar Azam scored 14 runs, Fakhar Zaman 27 runs, Mohammad Hafeez 13 runs, and Haider Ali 14 runs.

South Africa’s sloppy fielding let Pakistan stay afloat in the last over and helped Hassan Ali take the risk and hit out for the winning runs.

While batting, South Africa had dominated the middle overs but slowed down in the end to finish with 188-6 — a total that was smaller than they were on course to amass when Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were in full flow.

Innings Break!

South Africa: 188-6

Scorecard: https://t.co/ot8O8oRMfO#SAvPAK | #HarHaalMainCricket | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/uhOKAaWMhm

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 10, 2021

Pakistan’s bowlers were able to take six wickets, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking and Haris Rauf taking one each and Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Ali two each.

Most of Pakistan’s bowlers struggled and went for runs, except Nawaz and Hasan, both of whom picked up two wickets each and were economical.

OUT! Hasan Ali takes another wicket.
After 17 overs South Africa are 163-4.#SAvPAK | #HarHaalMainCricket | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/1MXMRUu6RX

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 10, 2021

A day before the first T20I in Johannesburg, South Africa’s white-ball captain Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the series after suffering a Grade One hamstring strain. In his absence, Heinrich Klaasen will lead the Proteas during the four-match contest.

Teams:

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (captain, wkt), Aiden Markram, Janneman Malan, Pite van Biljon, Wihan Lubbe, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf

Umpires: Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker (both RSA)

Television umpire: Bongani Jele (RSA)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)