Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024. Second Twenty/20 between Pakistan and South Africa. Venue of the match will be Centurion.
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In his tenth year as an international cricket player, Reeza Hendricks hit his maiden T20I century as South Africa won their first bilateral T20I series since August 2022. They broke an eight-series T20I trophy drought that began when they defeated Ireland more over two years ago by recording the third-highest successful chase at SuperSport Park. Additionally, it marks Rob Walter’s first victory in a T20I series since he took over as white-ball coach in March 2023.
South Africa gave up the fifth-highest first-innings total at SuperSport Park after being assigned to field first, but they managed to chase it down with three balls remaining. Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen, who batted at number four, formed the backbone of the chase with a third-wicket partnership of 157 off 83 balls. With Heinrich Klaasen, the interim captain, at the other end, van der Dussen struck the winning runs and recorded his sixth T20I fifty.
Pakistan may not have lost the game because of their over dependence on the slower ball, which they sent down in large quantities. They might have had many more, even if they surpassed 200. After 11 overs, they were 103 for 1, and after 16 overs, they were 136 for 4. George Linde, a left-arm spinner, and debutant Dayyaan Galiem helped South Africa take 3 for 33 in that five-over session.
Pakistan’s innings was based on two significant partnerships despite the strikes: Saim Ayub and Babar Azam put up 87 off 45 balls for the second wicket, and Ayub and Irfan Khan put on 73 of 32 balls for the fifth wicket to push their total over 200. Two elder hands, Hendricks and van der Dussen, carried South Africa home, making it insufficient. Galiem had intended to attend this game, but he would not be participating. On his way home from the gym this week, he received a call he never expected.
He had tickets to the hospitality suite and was supposed to be sitting with his domestic teammates, enjoying some drinks and the beginning of the December holidays. Galiem was called up to the national team after Anrich Nortje damaged his left big toe. After making his debut on his home field, he was awarded the new ball. Only three runs were scored in his opening over. Klaasen will have to explain why he didn’t bowl another on the powerplay, but he dropped Ayub on three throughout that time, which was expensive.
After being reinstated in the seventh over, he made a single in-length error with a short, wide ball before being removed once more. Usman Khan top-edged Galiem to Kwena Maphaka at deep third in his third stint, giving him his maiden international wicket; nonetheless, his breakthrough came in his penultimate over. It was only the second time he bowled consecutively, and Galiem made a quick catch when Tayyab Tahir popped a leading edge back up to him.
In his maiden international appearance, he achieved respectable numbers of 2 for 21 in four overs with 12 dot balls, albeit it would not have made up for his previous mistake. However, Galiem’s story did not finish there. Ayub struck Donovan Ferreira almost directly as he was at long-on. Galiem positioned himself awkwardly, causing the ball to explode out of his grasp. As they continue to experiment with their opening lineup, Pakistan split apart RizBar, and Ayub has argued that he should stay in the position.
Before hitting a Ferreira delivery to debutant Galiem at point, who was unable to hold onto the opportunity, he scored three runs off the first eight balls he faced. Ayub began a sensational takedown of Maphaka by muscleing over deep midwicket for six on the next ball he faced. The Powerplay’s most costly over finished with three dot balls after the next two balls produced consecutive boundaries. Ayub’s favorite stroke was the slog sweep, which he used to great effect to support Babar.
Ayub had the time and chance to double up because his career-best and first half-century in the format came off 33 balls in the 11th over. Ayub used more traditional strokes, such as the square drive, after Babar was fired. With three overs remaining, he was on the verge of 90 after continuing to challenge Maphaka and hitting him for three sixes in his last over. In a terrible turn of events, Ayub was left undefeated at 98 after facing just six balls in the final three overs and none in the final over.
Jahandad Khan was brought into the side to replace wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem, and he quickly demonstrated his abilities. The initial partnership ended on six when his second ball eluded left-handed Ryan Rickelton, who was forced to play at it with little foot movement and edged to Rizwan. Jahandad experimented with lengths and speeds in his subsequent over, first delivering a slower ball before finishing with a short ball that Matthew Breetzke tried to draw but was only able to fly to mid-on.
After four overs, South Africa was down 28 for 2 after a straightforward catch by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Hendricks silenced his detractors by demonstrating that he still has what it takes to compete at this level one day after being cut from the ODI team to face Pakistan the next week and with concerns about his continuing inclusion in national squads. The first 14 balls he faced were run-a-ball 14, and he top-edged him over fine leg for six after tucking into a short Haris Rauf delivery. He then hit a slower ball into the stands over deep square for another six.
South Africa ended the powerplay at 52 for 2, seven runs ahead of and one wicket more than Pakistan’s 45 for 1 at the same point, thanks to a third six. By the midway point, he had hit two more sixes, including one off Abbas Afridi, raising his total to fifty off 29 deliveries. Pakistan was 90 for 1 at the same point, while South Africa was 94 for 2. After hitting Rauf over midwicket, Hendricks reached triple digits. He dealt in boundaries and jumped into the nineties with three more sixes and two fours.
He left South Africa on the verge of victory with his century off 54 balls and his final score of 117 off 63 balls, which included seven fours and ten sixes. They needed 21 runs off 14 balls when Hendricks was removed, and they reached that total off 11.
