Pakistan 140 for 6 (Babar 68, Agha 33, Bosch 2-24, Williams 2-26) beat South Africa 139 for 9 (Hendricks 34, Shaheen 3-26, Tariq 2-26, Faheem 2-28) by four wickets
Pakistan wrapped up their home T20I series against South Africa in thrilling fashion, clinching a 2-1 series win after a hard-fought victory in the third and final match. The spotlight belonged once again to Babar Azam, who silenced critics with a magnificent 68 off 47 balls, anchoring Pakistan’s chase of 140 and guiding his side to a four-wicket win with an over to spare in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
This innings marked Babar’s 37th T20I half-century, and notably his first since May 2024, reaffirming his class and composure under pressure. His calm leadership at the crease turned what initially looked like a nervy chase into a composed and calculated pursuit that ended with Pakistan lifting the series trophy.
Early Wobbles in the Chase
Pakistan’s reply got off to a rocky start. The normally aggressive Saim Ayub departed for a six-ball duck, caught attempting to go aerial too early. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch and George Linde kept things tight, drying up the runs in the Powerplay with disciplined line and length.
At one stage, Pakistan’s scoring rate hovered under seven an over, and the required run rate crept toward eight. Sahibzada Farhan and Salman Agha struggled to find rhythm against South Africa’s well-drilled attack, raising concern among the home fans.
But that’s when Babar Azam began to show his class. Mixing deft placement with textbook timing, he picked boundaries at regular intervals — striking nine fours in total — and rotated the strike expertly. His partnership with Agha Salman, worth 76 runs in 52 balls, proved to be the turning point of the match.
Agha’s Support and a Controlled Finish
While Babar provided the anchor, Agha played the ideal supporting role, contributing a steady 33 runs that helped ease Pakistan’s nerves. Their running between the wickets was sharp, and their awareness of the field placements allowed them to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Both batters fell just before the finish line, but by that time, the job was nearly done. The lower order calmly saw Pakistan home, confirming a well-deserved victory that capped off a memorable series win.
Shaheen’s Early Strikes Set the Tone
Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a fiery opening spell that immediately put South Africa on the back foot. He dismissed Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the same over, both clean-bowled by trademark in-swingers that lit up the stadium.
South Africa managed to recover slightly through Reeza Hendricks (34), while Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira chipped in with brief cameos. However, Pakistan’s bowlers maintained the pressure throughout, with Faheem Ashraf (2-28) and Tariq (2-26) delivering crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs.
At 95 for 7, the visitors looked down and out, but Corbin Bosch provided some late resistance with a fighting 30 not out off 23 balls, ensuring South Africa at least had something to defend. Unfortunately for them, Babar made sure it wasn’t quite enough.
Series Wrap-Up and What’s Next
The win not only gave Pakistan a morale-boosting series victory but also marked a return to form for their captain, who had been under scrutiny for inconsistent performances earlier in the year. The home crowd erupted in celebration as Pakistan crossed the finish line, their faith in Babar reaffirmed.
For South Africa, there were positives — Bosch’s emergence as a dependable all-round option and Hendricks’ steady contributions at the top — but questions remain over their middle order and death bowling.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will look to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for their upcoming international assignments, buoyed by a performance that showcased both resilience and class.
Key Stats
- Player of the Match: Babar Azam (68 off 47 balls, 9 fours)
- Player of the Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (7 wickets across 3 matches)
- Series Result: Pakistan won 2-1
- Venue: Lahore
