South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks scored 60 runs off 40 balls, while Corbin Bosch took a career-best 4-14 in four overs as South Africa defeated Pakistan by 55 runs in the first T20I in Rawalpindi. South Africa batted first and posted 194 for nine in 20 overs. Pakistan could only manage 139 all out in response.
Hendricks and Quinton de Kock provided a solid start, with de Kock scoring 23 off 13 balls. Tony de Zorzi, making his T20 debut, contributed 33 runs off 16 deliveries, and George Linde added 36 runs off 22 balls. Mohammad Nawaz shined with the ball for Pakistan, taking 3-26 in four overs.
Pakistan struggled against South Africa’s seamers and failed to build momentum, despite Saim Ayub’s 37 off 28 balls. Babar Azam, in his first T20 international since December, was dismissed for a two-ball duck by Bosch. Linde, although expensive initially, ended with figures of 3-31.
The next match of the series will take place in Lahore on Friday, followed by the final game at the same venue on Saturday.