SA vs PAK 2nd T20I – With South Africa’s second-string squad getting the better of Pakistan in the series opener, they’ll be eyeing to clinch the series in the second T20I of a three-match series in Centurion itself on Friday.
Despite having a shaky start in the powerplay, the hosts were able to post a formidable total in Durban on the back of vintage David Miller’s show and George Linde’s heroics in the fag end of the innings. Linde shone with the ball to script a famous victory for the hosts in the first encounter.
Pakistan showed their defiance till the last over, but Rizwan started bludgeoning very late and wasn’t helped by the middle-order muddle either. Though there were plenty of positives for the hosts as returning premium pacer Shaheen Afridi bowled exceedingly well to claim three wickets, while Abbas Afridi extended his brilliance from the Australia tour to scalp two wickets.
South Africa, despite not having their senior players owing to the recently concluded Test series vs. Sri Lanka, exceeded expectations as David Miller took the mantle when the team was reeling at 3/28. Miller looked at his devastating best as he unleashed not only mighty blows but also exuded free-flowing shots from his armoury to take out the hosts from the rut.
However, Miller fell in the 14th over at 135/6, and it appeared Pakistan would contain them under 160, but then George Linde arrived. Linde, who was playing his first international in three years, took this opportunity with both hands and propelled the hosts to post a healthy total with having special likening in Wristy Muqeem, hitting three sixes to swing the momentum in the Proteas’ favour.
Linde’s batting rubbed off on his bowling as he took out a four-fer, including three wickets in the 18th over, dispelling the hopes of visitors thoroughly. With rookie Maphaka standing out from the get-go, it caters promising signs for the Proteas. Baartman and Peter kept a lid on the scoring run rate, encumbering Rizwan, especially from upping the ante.
With Andile Semilane not having his best day and Nortje being ruled out from the series due to a fracture in his left toe, Klassen & Co. hand bowling all-rounder Patrick Kruger a hit.
Pakistan will have to maximise in the batting department; especially Rizwan will have to shift his gears promptly, and the underfire middle order needs to buckle down if they are to level the series against the makeshift Proteas squadron.
SuperSport Park Centurion Pitch Report
Supersport Park historically provides a belter of a surface where the batters would be licking their lips in a bid to go flat from the onset on the bowling. The chasing team would fancy their chances to come up trumps eventually.
SA vs PAK 2nd T20I Probable Playing XI
South Africa Playing XI – Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (c & wk), Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman
Pakistan Playing XI – Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
SA vs PAK Probable Match Winner
South Africa firmly enter this contest as favourites after a phenomenal performance at Durban, with a young & exciting bowling attack, who can pick wickets at any stages of the game and destructive batting lineup, we back South Africa to win this game.
