Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 172/8 (12 runs required, RR: 8.60)

  • Haris Rauf2 (3b)
  • Sufiyan Muqeem5 (3b)
  • Kwena Maphaka4-0-39-2
  • Ottneil Baartman4-0-26-1

A dramatic series opener that kept us hooked until the very end! We'll be back on Friday for the second meeting but for now it's goodbye from me, Rvel Zahid, and thank you for your company

George Linde, Player of the Match: Like a dream comeback. I have played quite a lot of cricket, had a pretty good season so far. I just try to stay calm at the crease and take a deep breath and always ask myself what does the team needs from myself, and I am just glad I delivered for the team. I just felt calm today for some reason. Also, I missed the bus coming to the ground today and I felt like I had to deliver for the team today and glad I did. Police escort me to the bus, and they waited for me, it was a little embarrassing...

Mohammad Rizwan stayed till the end, but it begs the question: did his slow start earlier come back to haunt him in the end? Although he accelerated later, it was a tough equation by then and it ultimately boils down to the consumption of dot balls at the beginning. That last over from Sufiyan conceded plenty, giving South Africa an extra cushion of runs that proved very handy in this tight game. Haris Rauf was not at his belligerent best and didn't have the best day at the office. With not many all-rounders in the lineup coupled with Babar Azam's inconsistency, a lot of pressure fell on the newcomers, who lack experience playing in these conditions. Nevertheless, it was a great spectacle for the jam-packed house. George Linde was star of the show for South Africa, picking 4/21 and almost got the hattrick as Haris Rauf survived a lbw referral and it all added to the drama and excitement, but the canny left-arm spinner deserved a fifer. Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman, Nqabayomzi Peter held their end of the bargain. Earlier, David Miller set the stage on fire with a staggering 82 and then later it was Linde who was violent at the death and added crucial 48 runs - dream outing for him.

19.6
1
Maphaka to Haris Rauf, 1 run, Lands it on a length outside off, makes room and jabs it away to extra cover for a run and South Africa go one up in the three-match T20I series but what a fascinating game of cricket we witnessed, so many twists, turns but in the end, South Africa prevail and stayed calm in the big moments

Mustafa Moudi : "In Australia - Pakistan lost the first match (1st ODI) and the last Match (3rd T20I). In Zimbabwe - Pakistan Again lost the first match (1st ODI) and the last Match (3rd T20I). And now South Africa too thet have lost the First ODI. Is it now they tradition to lose the Opening and Final Matches of all tours ??"

19.5
1
Maphaka to Sufiyan Muqeem, 1 run, Pushed fuller and angled into leg-stump, whisked away to midwicket for a run
19.4
2
Maphaka to Sufiyan Muqeem, 2 runs, Follows him as he backs away and keeps it full, he belts it down the ground and it won't carry to the rope
19.3
2
Maphaka to Sufiyan Muqeem, 2 runs, Slaps it away over backward point and scampers back for a brace, was a full delivery outside off

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st16Mohammad RizwanBabar Azam
2nd40Mohammad RizwanSaim Ayub
3rd19Mohammad RizwanUsman Khan
4th34Mohammad RizwanTayyab Tahir
5th42Mohammad RizwanShaheen Shah Afridi
6th2Mohammad RizwanIrfan Khan
7th0Mohammad RizwanAbbas Afridi
8th13Mohammad RizwanHaris Rauf
9th6Haris RaufSufiyan Muqeem