Pakistan faced the same fate in the second T20I as they did in the first, losing the match in Centurion. With one game left to play, South Africa clinched the series.
On Friday, December 13, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a competitive total of 206 runs. However, South Africa chased down the target with three balls to spare, securing a commanding seven-wicket victory.
Pakistan’s Innings
Pakistan got off to a rocky start, losing Mohammad Rizwan for just 11 runs with the team score at 16. Babar Azam then formed an 87-run partnership in 45 balls with Saim Ayub. Babar scored 31 off 20 balls before being dismissed.
After Babar’s departure, Saim Ayub took control, dominating the South African bowlers. Usman Khan contributed only three runs, and Tayyib Tahir managed six runs before being dismissed. However, Saim Ayub found support from Irfan Khan in the fifth-wicket partnership.
Together, Saim and Irfan added 73 runs, with Irfan scoring a quick 30 off 16 balls. Saim remained unbeaten with a stellar 98 off 57 balls, narrowly missing a century. Abbas Afridi added 11* runs off just four balls at the end.
For South Africa, Dayyaan Galiem and Corbin Bosch took two wickets each, while George Linde claimed one.
South Africa’s Chase
Chasing 207, South Africa had a shaky start, losing Ryan Rickelton for 2 and Matthew Breetzke for 12, leaving them at 28/2. However, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks turned the game around with a phenomenal 157-run partnership off 83 balls.
Reeza Hendricks was the star of the show, scoring a magnificent 117 off 63 balls. When he departed, South Africa needed just 19 runs to win. Rassie van der Dussen ensured the chase was completed comfortably, remaining unbeaten on 66 off 38 balls. Heinrich Klaasen supported him with 8* runs.
For Pakistan, Zaman Khan took two wickets, while Abbas Afridi claimed one.
With this victory, South Africa sealed the three-match series 2-0, leaving the final match a dead rubber.
