Pakistan, on Saturday, announced their playing XI for the third and final T20I against South Africa, scheduled to begin in just a couple of hours. Despite having already lost the series, Pakistan will aim to salvage some pride and avoid a clean sweep in this concluding match.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the playing XI for the third T20I includes: Mohammad Rizwan (Captain and Wicket Keeper), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmad.
Pakistan’s challenge comes after a disheartening performance in the second T20I held at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on December 13, 2024. South Africa delivered a dominant display, clinching the series with a commanding seven-wicket victory. Reeza Hendricks’ extraordinary century was the highlight of the match, propelling the hosts to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
In the second T20I, Pakistan elected to bat first and posted an impressive total of 206/5 in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub was the standout batter, smashing an unbeaten 98 off just 57 balls, featuring 11 fours and 5 sixes. Babar Azam added a valuable 31 runs off 20 balls, while Irfan Khan’s quickfire 30 off 16 deliveries and Abbas Afridi’s 11 off 4 balls provided crucial late runs.
South Africa’s bowlers faced a stiff challenge but showed resilience. Dayyaan Galiem’s disciplined spell of 2/21 in 4 overs stood out, while Ottniel Baartman also picked up 2 wickets, albeit conceding 51 runs. George Linde’s economical bowling added pressure on Pakistan during key overs.
In the chase, Hendricks delivered a masterclass, scoring a match-winning 117 off 63 balls, laced with 7 fours and 10 sixes. His knock dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack. Rassie van der Dussen provided strong support with an unbeaten 66 off 38 balls, including 3 fours and 5 sixes. Their 139-run partnership for the third wicket sealed the victory with three balls to spare.
For Pakistan, Jahandad Khan took an early wicket, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for just 2 runs. However, the rest of the bowling unit faltered. Haris Rauf conceded 57 runs in 4 overs, while Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed failed to make significant breakthroughs. Abbas Afridi’s solitary wicket came at a high cost of 46 runs in 3.3 overs.
Reeza Hendricks’ exceptional century earned him the Player of the Match award, underlining South Africa’s dominance in the series.