SA vs PAK: South Africa managed to edge past Pakistan by 11 runs in the first T20I of the series in Durban, with a strong all-round performance that saw them set a challenging total of 184 runs.
South Africa’s Recovery After Early Setback
Batting first, South Africa found themselves in early trouble, reduced to a precarious 28/3. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed bowled exceptionally well with the new ball, putting pressure on the hosts. However, veteran David Miller played a match-defining knock, taking charge of the innings despite the fall of wickets at the other end.
Miller’s blistering 82 runs off 40 balls was the highlight of South Africa’s innings. He was well supported by George Linde, who contributed a crucial 48 runs off 24 balls. Heinrich Klaasen, captaining the side in the absence of Aiden Markram, struggled with the bat, making just 12 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed. Towards the end, teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka played a vital cameo, scoring 12 runs, which ultimately proved to be important in the context of the game.
Pakistan’s Struggle in the Chase
In response, Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start with the early loss of Babar Azam in the third over, failing to open his account. This early setback further added to the concerns about Azam’s form, as he had already been dropped from the Test squad earlier in the year. If his current form continues, it could have implications for his spot in the white-ball formats as well.
Saim Ayub, batting at number three, showed some promise with a quick 31 runs off 15 balls, but Pakistan still needed more stability. The real turning point came with the captain Mohammad Rizwan’s sluggish approach. Despite playing 30 balls, Rizwan’s strike rate remained below 100, which is far from ideal when chasing 184 in T20 cricket. His lack of aggression at a critical stage left Pakistan in a difficult position.
Rizwan eventually finished with 74 runs off 62 balls, but his slow knock, coupled with a lack of support from the other end, was not enough to get Pakistan across the line. South Africa’s bowlers held their nerve, and the hosts secured an 11-run victory in the first T20I.
Here’s how Twitter responded to Pakistan’s defeat:
Dunya Umeed par qaim hai….
— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) December 10, 2024
Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes and not repeat them in the next match#PAKvsSA
18-Year old Kwena Maphaka gets Babar Azam on duck. 🤯
— Monish (@Monish09cric) December 11, 2024
– This is Maphaka's 2nd Wicket in International Cricket.#SAvPAK #Pakistan #SAvsPAK #BabarAzam𓃵 #DavidMiller #Miller #PakistanCricket #Australia #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/8cxNPdLeIZ
TAKE A BOW, DAVID MILLER. 🙇♂️
— Ranjeet singh (@Ranjeet_singh05) December 11, 2024
– 82 (40) with 4 fours and 8 sixes against Pakistan. The lone warrior of South Africa tonight with no support from the other end. A clutch knock by the most clutch Proteas player in history. 👌#SAvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/iVBkW5jy9W
Key Concerns for Pakistan
The loss highlighted a few key concerns for Pakistan, notably the form of their captain Babar Azam and Rizwan’s inability to accelerate when required. If these issues persist, Pakistan could face more challenges in the upcoming matches of the series.
