Centurion Park: Saim Ayub‘s outstanding innings of 98 runs off 57 balls helped Pakistan post a challenging total of 206/5 in their 20 overs against South Africa in the second T20I at Centurion Park on Friday.
Opening the innings with Mohammad Rizwan, Saim kept the scoreboard ticking with a steady flow of runs. Rizwan, however, was dismissed early for 11 runs off 13 balls by Ottneil Baartman, leaving Pakistan at 16/1. Saim then partnered with Babar Azam, who played a quick cameo, hitting 31 runs off 20 balls, including three fours and a six. By the 10th over, Pakistan were 90/1, with Saim nearing his half-century.
Saim reached his fifty in style, hitting a boundary and then a six off Nqabayomzi Peter. But the partnership was broken soon after as Babar was dismissed by George Linde. Pakistan then faced further pressure as Dayyaan Galiem dismissed Usman Khan for just a single run and Tayyab Tahir for a duck in quick succession, leaving Pakistan at 113/4 in the 15th over.
Despite the pressure, Saim continued to dominate, adding 73 runs with Muhammad Irfan Khan for the fifth wicket. Irfan played a vital cameo, scoring 30 runs from 16 balls, but was dismissed in the final over. Saim, however, remained unbeaten on 98, as Pakistan finished their innings at 206/5.
Saim’s innings included 11 fours and 5 sixes, making him the standout performer for Pakistan. Galiem and Baartman were the pick of the South African bowlers, each claiming two wickets, while Linde took one.
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Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, setting South Africa a daunting target of 207 runs.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
South Africa: Reeze Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (captain and wicketkeeper), Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Dayyaan Galiem, Ottneil Baartman, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka.
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