South Africa (210/3) defeat Pakistan (206/5) by 7 wickets to clinch the 3-match T20I series by an unassailable lead of 2-0

[Cricket Warrior]

After an exciting opener in Durban, South Africa will look to maintain their momentum in Centurion and clinch the series, with their players in excellent form. Meanwhile, Pakistan is still searching for the right combination as they strive to adapt to the demands of modern T20 cricket. They will aim for a strong comeback in this match to stay alive in the series.

The Centurion pitch is typically a batter-friendly surface, often producing high-scoring games. However, bowlers who can effectively use variations may have a significant impact. Pakistan might adopt an aggressive approach at the top of the order to capitalize on the powerplay, while South Africa will focus on their bowlers striking early and controlling the middle overs.


Squads

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (C & wk), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)

South Africa: Heinrich Klaasen (C), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortjé, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi*, Andile Simelane, Rassie van der Dussen


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4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan to lose again if Riz- Babar to open the batting

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan to lose again if Riz- Babar to open the batting

It'll be Rizwan and Saim followed by Babar at 3 this time.

Usman at 4, Tayyab 5 and Irfan 6.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

The team is full of bits and pieces players which reflects the way they go about playing.

Now as teams are prepping for the 2026 WC we are yet to find a decent 5 players to take through.

Fakhar has to feature in the T20 squad as 2026 could most likely be his swansong before he gets done.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Babar and Rizwan need to open but play their natural game. Saim needs to fire at number 3. Win toss bat first. Riz Bar need to take Pak to 80/0 after 10. Saim and co can lead Pak to 190. Then it's game on.

 

[Mohraheem]

Stop giving tribute to Failure Misbah! Play your own game! Playing dot balls wasting over doing tuktuk look where Misbah is now! Your wasting your time and countries time… I expect everyone to go tomorrow and play aggressive! Not like failure tuktuk Misbah style

 

[khyberlion]

The team is full of bits and pieces players which reflects the way they go about playing.

Now as teams are prepping for the 2026 WC we are yet to find a decent 5 players to take through.

Fakhar has to feature in the T20 squad as 2026 could most likely be his swansong before he gets done.

With the way fakhar is batting in domestics of late the signs are he's done tbh. I hope I am am wrong.

 

[sweep_shot]

Not sure why Saim didn't open in 1st game.

Need a more positive batting approach in 2nd game.

 

[Bhaijaan]

We will witness the wrath of Babar Azam today.

 

[BouncerGuy]

For me, Saim and Babar should open. This pair knows each other very well and complements each other nicely. Riz should not play (1st choice) otherwise he should not open by any means.

 

[SportsWarrior]

Pakistan should win easily. SA is playing pretty inexperienced bowling lineup and they will struggle to contain Pakistani hitters. Just go with positive mindset and its your game to take.

 

[BouncerGuy]

they will struggle to contain Pakistani hitters

LOL... What hitters>???? wherE??

 

[Hawkeye]

How is the centurion ground/pitch?

High scoring? Average score?

Also has RIZWAN taken responsibility for the previous loss or still in denial mode and thinking the bowlers let us down?

 

[BouncerGuy]

How is the centurion ground/pitch?

High scoring? Average score?

Also has RIZWAN taken responsibility for the previous loss or still in denial mode and thinking the bowlers let us down?

The highest score here is 259, lowest is 100. Babar Azam holds the highest individual score of 122 runs.

 

[mominsaigol]

Babar and Rizwan need to open but play their natural game. Saim needs to fire at number 3. Win toss bat first. Riz Bar need to take Pak to 80/0 after 10. Saim and co can lead Pak to 190. Then it's game on.

Yes bro, Babar and rizwan will take Pakistan to 80 for 0 in the first 10. Travis head and Warner opening kar rahe hain na.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Yes bro, Babar and rizwan will take Pakistan to 80 for 0 in the first 10. Travis head and Warner opening kar rahe hain na.

Warner average T20I 33
Head Average T20I 33


Don't bring irrelevant comparisons here, I can deal with it. Rizwan and Babar chased down 205 in 18 overs vs SA in SA and destroyed England in chases of 200+. We know they are versatile players who play according to team demands. Pak problem is lack of other decent batters which forces Rizbar to drop anchor more.

 

[Hawkeye]

The highest score here is 259, lowest is 100. Babar Azam holds the highest individual score of 122 runs.

Then it seems like a good batting track.

Unfortunately RIZWAN will try to ruin us again like he did in the first match on a great batting pitch.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Saim has to come good at number 3. If he doesn't get at least 1 50 in this series, it is time to move on. Pak don't need flashy players with bad output.

 

[jamie smith]

Saim has to come good at number 3. If he doesn't get at least 1 50 in this series, it is time to move on. Pak don't need flashy players with bad output.

he would have scored a 100 if rizwan hadnt been doing tuk tuk

 

[jamie smith]

Babar and Rizwan need to open but play their natural game. Saim needs to fire at number 3. Win toss bat first. Riz Bar need to take Pak to 80/0 after 10. Saim and co can lead Pak to 190. Then it's game on.

wth why would rizbarplay with ease and tell others to strioke from 1st ball. its modern t20 every batsman should be able to at atleast 140 sr

 

[Hellion]

Even Nortje is out for the rest of the series. Pakistan really should be beating this Saffer Z team.

 

[jamie smith]

Even Nortje is out for the rest of the series. Pakistan really should be beating this Saffer Z team.

that is bad news for pak. nortje is like a run machine these days

 

[Hellion]

that is bad news for pak. nortje is like a run machine these days

The last year Nortje had an economy rate above 8 was back in 2020.

 

[Rana]

What’s the batting order today?

Rizwan
Omair
Babar
Saim




Hahahahahahaaahahahahhahahaahahahahaahahahhahaahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahahaahahahahahhahahahaahahhaahhaahahahhaahahahahahahahahhaa

 

[Rana]

I don’t understand why Pakistani fans and analysts were so surprised and shocked at Linde’s performance last game.

The guy is one of the top players in the SA T20. He smashed Rashid khan for multiple sixes in an over last season. He knows how to bat on these decks

 

[Kianig89]

Very tough for Rizwan the captain to turn things around, SA.might seal the series here staring at another whitewash

 

[Rana]

Very tough for Rizwan the captain to turn things around, SA.might seal the series here staring at another whitewash

But but but Pakistan Soooopa League Sooopa man captain??

Kaptaaana…Ab konsa Bahaana???

 

[Kianig89]

But but but Pakistan Soooopa League Sooopa man captain??

Kaptaaana…Ab konsa Bahaana???

I have always maintained the borders of rationality , ground reality is SA are better than us

 

[Rana]

ave always maintained the borders of rationality

Yeah no sorry you haven’t I’m afraid.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan make one change for the 2nd T20I against South Africa

In a must-win match to avoid a series loss, the visitors bring in Jahandad Khan, replacing Sufiyan Muqeem.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Sufiyan's drop is right. No need for extra spinner.

 

[Rana]

The new era of Pakistan cricket= even a broken clock is right twice in the day

 

[Rana]

Gwan South Africa

Absolutely IMPALE this Pakistan side today!

 

[stani_pak]

Need to move away from babar and rizwan combo, try something different even if it fails, i would like to see saim ayub open along with usman khan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Need to move away from babar and rizwan combo, try something different even if it fails, i would like to see saim ayub open along with usman khan.

USMAN??? WHY NOT GO WITH OMAIR

Yes he is not in playing 11 though but Usman is pathetic

 

[Rana]

Need to move away from babar and rizwan combo, try something different even if it fails, i would like to see saim ayub open along with usman khan.

No stick to it now

You won’t get away from this until these two have made their bank accounts and properties abroad

 

[Mrjungshook]

I just want to see rizwan's face when he comes to open again today. I mean I want to see if he has even little shame in his eyes hahaha.
Bdw what was he saying after the match (lot of positives lot of postives)
Kisi ne biryani ka daba dikha diya tha kyaa dressing room se Bhai?

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Pakistan make one change for the 2nd T20I against South Africa

In a must-win match to avoid a series loss, the visitors bring in Jahandad Khan, replacing Sufiyan Muqeem.

Good move, Sufiyan is not convincing at international level. He needs to work on his game for another 2-3 years. Rizwan and Babar at the top need to be shown faith. It's time for Saim to deliver at 3, he has had enough chances. He threw his wicket away last game after starting well.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

I would like to present some numbers for objective analysis. Please don't think emotionally but objectively. Pak needs to back their best players.

 

[adi_62941]

Feeling bad for sufiyan, he was really misused in last T20i. Rizwan giving him last over was a very very bad move. Abrar on the other hand will be picked up by SAF batters. There is no mystery in abrar hands. Any decent batsmen can make him look clown as its all about release point.

 

[jamie smith]

Good move, Sufiyan is not convincing at international level. He needs to work on his game for another 2-3 years. Rizwan and Babar at the top need to be shown faith. It's time for Saim to deliver at 3, he has had enough chances. He threw his wicket away last game after starting well.

in the next t20 series pak that will have rizwan should be replaced by maaz sadaqt or nafay

 

[Rana]

in the next t20 series pak that will have rizwan should be replaced by maaz sadaqt or nafay

Bro you are hoping for sense to prevail

You will be disappointed.

 

[jamie smith]

Good move, Sufiyan is not convincing at international level. He needs to work on his game for another 2-3 years. Rizwan and Babar at the top need to be shown faith. It's time for Saim to deliver at 3, he has had enough chances. He threw his wicket away last game after starting well.

if riz manages to score with a sr of 150 in powerplay i will never criticize him on pp again

 

[Rana]

if riz manages to score with a sr of 150 in powerplay i will never criticize him on pp again

It might be against his spiritual beliefs to do that

 

[jamie smith]

maaz is such a good player. future all format opener along with ayub

Bro you are hoping for sense to prevail

You will be disappointed.

 

[jamie smith]

probability is 0.000000000000000000001%

It might be against his spiritual beliefs to do that

 

[Rana]

maaz is such a good player. future all format opener along with ayub

I don’t disagree

I really like Nafay, Ammad Alam and wouldn’t mind giving Hasan Nawaz a chance too. Add Omair bin Yousuf….


But sorry, I know this is the Pakistan cricket team. They are more stringent on going about a certain way in T20 with a group of players than they are in Test cricket.

You can expect sense to prevail in Test cricket for Pakistan. You can expect them to do what’s right in that format….but not in T20i cricket I’m afraid.

In Pakistan, good performances in Tests leads to you being rewarded with the honour of playing T20i cricket. It’s not how others do it.

 

[Rana]

The mindset:

In Pakistan, to prove you are a worthy T20i player, you must prove your worth in Test cricket.


Absolute bonkers nation

 

[Rana]

The sad reality is,

Until Rizwan doesn’t secure enough money to settle down abroad in USA or Canada, he will continue to leach onto this format. It’s his way of getting the exposure needed to bag contracts in PSL, Bangla premier league and Canada league

 

[mominsaigol]

The mindset:

In Pakistan, to prove you are a worthy T20i player, you must prove your worth in Test cricket.


Absolute bonkers nation

But isn't t20 cricket Rizwan’s strongest format? He isn't called the bradman of test or odi.

He's the bradman of t20 cricket.

 

[jamie smith]

I don’t disagree

I really like Nafay, Ammad Alam and wouldn’t mind giving Hasan Nawaz a chance too. Add Omair bin Yousuf….


But sorry, I know this is the Pakistan cricket team. They are more stringent on going about a certain way in T20 with a group of players than they are in Test cricket.

You can expect sense to prevail in Test cricket for Pakistan. You can expect them to do what’s right in that format….but not in T20i cricket I’m afraid.

In Pakistan, good performances in Tests leads to you being rewarded with the honour of playing T20i cricket. It’s not how others do it.

agree but apart from nafay and oby none of the mentioned players have the backing of stats

 

[Rana]

But isn't t20 cricket Rizwan’s strongest format? He isn't called the bradman of test or odi.

He's the bradman of t20 cricket.

Amazing

He averages 47 in T20i cricket but averages 41 in Tests

Surely, if he isn’t a fraud he should be averaging 80ish in Test cricket?

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

The sad reality is,

Until Rizwan doesn’t secure enough money to settle down abroad in USA or Canada, he will continue to leach onto this format. It’s his way of getting the exposure needed to bag contracts in PSL, Bangla premier league and Canada league

You have an agenda against Rizwan. God is giving him money and success, understandably people are jealous. He is the most successful T20I player and if IPL had Pak players he would be worth more than other foreign players.

 

[mango_bite77]

Centurion is high scoring ground. However Pak lacks big hitters, may end up loosing series today. Not a good start for Rizwan's T20 captaincy career.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

if riz manages to score with a sr of 150 in powerplay i will never criticize him on pp again

Without Rizwan, Pakistan lost to Afghanistan. Him and Babar are the only reason Pak T20 team is competitive along with a firing Shaheen.

 

[Rana]

agree but apart from nafay and oby none of the mentioned players have the backing of stats

Tbh, it’s not how the SENA teams identify their sharpshooter batsmen

They look at the ability to cause damage. Stats are secondary, they help In understanding where the weaknesses are in order to improve.

JFM, Matt Short, Fin Allen etc. no one cares about their stats….it’s the ability to absolutely tear the house down if you get going that matters.

 

[jamie smith]

Without Rizwan, Pakistan lost to Afghanistan. Him and Babar are the only reason Pak T20 team is competitive along with a firing Shaheen.

16 of 26 and 31 of 44 lolllllllll

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

if riz manages to score with a sr of 150 in powerplay i will never criticize him on pp again

He is more than capable as he has shown multiple times in 200+ chases. He holds himself back because of the terrible support. Let's see if Saim and others step up today for once.

 

[jamie smith]

you are always talking likea kid who has started watching cricket in reels @ t20 champ

 

[jamie smith]

He is more than capable as he has shown multiple times in 200+ chases. He holds himself back because of the terrible support. Let's see if Saim and others step up today for once.

16 of 26 and 31 of 44 lolllllllll

 

[gazza619]

He is more than capable as he has shown multiple times in 200+ chases. He holds himself back because of the terrible support. Let's see if Saim and others step up today for once.

even if Riz scores a 30 ball 60, it wont be good enough for the haters. Jury will say this is South Africa B side.

Let Riz do his thing buddy. Let Riz do his thing.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Pakistan make one change for the 2nd T20I against South Africa

In a must-win match to avoid a series loss, the visitors bring in Jahandad Khan, replacing Sufiyan Muqeem.

For God sake let Saim open and get rid of that Hack Usman for good.

 

[stani_pak]

USMAN??? WHY NOT GO WITH OMAIR

Yes he is not in playing 11 though but Usman is pathetic

I would go with Omair too but he is not in the playing eleven since Usman is I would go with him and give them the licence to go for it and try to attack in the powerplay

 

[Kianig89]

RizBar will be exposed again tonight, Pakistan might lose the series may be its the beginning of end

 

[Ahmed216]

He is more than capable as he has shown multiple times in 200+ chases. He holds himself back because of the terrible support. Let's see if Saim and others step up today for once.

He's not the same player anymore. If you look at his last 10 innings he struggles to find momentum.
His SR is dropping continuously.

T20 game has evolved too over the last couple of years and it's time we find better role models for our youngsters

 

[Kianig89]

SA is one of the best place to play T20s , ball comes on to bat nicely and travels fast.

This is where the tuk tuk brigade gets exposes. However, player with hitting ability can succeed what Pakistan needs to make sure is players like Saim, TT & Babar plays most of the deliveries. But with Rizwan opening and not able to find gaps makes things worse for the players coming next.

 

[AAli98]

Take your time openers it’s either 155 or 110 all out

 

[Hellion]

Let's see what Pakistan can do today against this Saffer side who are essentially reserves.

PAK is a 7th ranked side and lacking severely in batting talent .

But surely trundlers like Rauf can help them fluke this one?

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Why do Pakistan announce there Playing 11 before the match starts? I swear other teams don't or maybe I am wrong?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan have a strong combination today, so favorites today if they play with mind rather than stupid affiliations.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

even if Riz scores a 30 ball 60, it wont be good enough for the haters. Jury will say this is South Africa B side.

Let Riz do his thing buddy. Let Riz do his thing.

Rizwan will keep doing his thing and there will be stomach ache for his haters as he keeps piling on the runs.

 

[Rana]

Pakistan have a strong combination today, so favorites today if they play with mind rather than stupid affiliations.

It’s the same batting order?

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan have a strong combination today, so favorites today if they play with mind rather than stupid affiliations.

You're acting like they made 5 to 7 changes?

They made one?

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Pakistan have a strong combination today, so favorites today if they play with mind rather than stupid affiliations.

What affiliations? It's just a bad run of form exacerbated by a non existent middle and lower order and a very inconsistent Saim who hasn't delivered yet for the chances he has received.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

It’s the same batting order?

Same on paper but can be changed on the field

 

[Rana]

Same on paper but can be changed on the field

Stop dreaming. It will be the same batting order

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan have a strong combination today, so favorites today if they play with mind rather than stupid affiliations.

You're acting like they made 5 to 7 changes?

They made one?

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Saim performed well at 3, so why change his position, aqib's logic

 

[ethan hunt]

Let's see what Pakistan can do today against this Saffer side who are essentially reserves.

PAK is a 7th ranked side and lacking severely in batting talent .

But surely trundlers like Rauf can help them fluke this one?

Trundlers like Rauf? Surely you must be from the land of the great Abay Kuruvilla and Venkatesh Prasad?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

You're acting like they made 5 to 7 changes?

They made one?

The combination was always good bettered today now but it's all about sending right batters at right position