In the first T20I at Multan, South Africa thrashed Pakistan by a score of ten runs. Tazmin Brits’ half-century helped the Proteas reach 132/4 in 20 overs, but Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz’s 75-run partnership was in vain as the Proteas held the Pakistani batters to 122/5.
The first Twenty20 International took place on a breezy Multan evening as Pakistan and South Africa prepared for the T20 World Cup. After winning the toss, Pakistani captain Fatima Sana made the wise option to bowl first. Sadia Iqbal removed Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch with two consecutive blows in the third over, leaving South Africa reeling at 2/2.
Marizanne Kapp and Tazmin Brits steadied the batting despite the early blow, leading South Africa to 37/2 after the powerplay. In the eighth over, Nida Dar produced a vital breakthrough by getting rid of Kapp, just as the duo was starting to gather steam. South Africa was 47/3 at the midway point, with Sune Luus and the British at the crease.
However, a power outage in one of the floodlights caused a 10-minute interruption to the game. Following the break, Brits and Luus got back together and put up a strong 57-run partnership that saw the Proteas reach 94/3 by the 16th over.
Eventually, Sadia Iqbal struck once again, removing Luus in the 19th over, ending the partnership. But the Brits kept up their good work, hitting a half-century off only 60 balls, and South Africa managed a reasonable 132/4 in their 20 overs.
Aliya Riaz played a quickfire knock against South Africa
Pakistan had a terrible start to their reply to South Africa’s total, losing both Gull Feroza and Sidra Ameen within the powerplay. With Muneeba Ali and Nida Dar at the crease after four overs, the hosts were in serious trouble at 10/2. Their problems grew worse when debutant Seshnie Naidu made a sensational catch to dismiss Muneeba Ali in the fifth over.
Sadaf Shamas was removed shortly afterwards, putting Pakistan in serious danger at 30/4 by the ninth over. Nevertheless, Aliya Riaz and Dar started to steady the innings, occasionally hitting boundaries and offering Pakistan some optimism. Pakistan’s score at the midway point was 42/4, and 91 runs were still needed to win.
The partnership was important, but Tumi Sekhukhune removed Dar in the 13th over, putting Pakistan at 50/5 and requiring 81 runs from the last seven overs. After that, Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz launched a counterattack, scoring 30 runs in a short time to raise the score to 77/5 after 15.1 overs.
The duo was threatening with 56 runs needed from 29 balls, but the South African bowlers applied constant pressure, thwarting any breakthroughs in scoring. Pakistan’s chances of making the final over, with 30 runs required, were remote. In the end, the hosts’ 20 overs yielded only 122/5, a 10-run deficit that allowed South Africa to complete the victory.
Brief Score: South Africa vs Pakistan 1st T20I
South Africa 132 for 4 (Brits 56*, Luus 27, Iqbal 3-34) beat Pakistan 122 for 5 (Riaz 52*, Sana 37*, Sekhukhune 2-15, Kapp 2-22) by 10 runs.
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