South Africa delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pakistan in the second T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion on December 13, 2024.
Chasing a daunting target of 207, the hosts reached the finish line with seven wickets in hand and three balls to spare, propelled by an extraordinary century from Reeza Hendricks. This victory secured the three-match T20I series for South Africa, giving them an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss and posted a competitive total of 206/5 in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub was the standout performer, smashing an unbeaten 98 off just 57 deliveries, laced with 11 fours and 5 sixes. His brilliant knock was supported by contributions from Babar Azam (31 off 20) and Irfan Khan, who added 30 runs off 16 balls in the death overs. Abbas Afridi chipped in with a late flourish, scoring 11 runs off just 4 balls to push Pakistan past the 200-run mark.
South Africa’s bowlers faced a challenging task, with Dayyaan Galiem leading the effort. He delivered an economical spell, taking 2 wickets for just 21 runs in 4 overs. Ottniel Baartman also picked up 2 wickets, albeit at a higher cost of 51 runs, while George Linde took 1 wicket and kept things tight during his spell.
In the chase, South Africa was powered by a sensational innings from Reeza Hendricks, who scored a match-winning 117 off 63 balls. His knock, featuring 7 fours and 10 sixes, dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack. Hendricks was ably supported by Rassie van der Dussen, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 66 off 38 balls, including 3 fours and 5 sixes. The pair’s 139-run partnership for the third wicket sealed the game for the hosts.
For Pakistan, Jahandad Khan provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 2 runs. However, the bowling unit struggled overall, with Haris Rauf conceding 57 runs in 4 overs. Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed failed to make significant breakthroughs, while Abbas Afridi’s lone wicket came at a costly 46 runs from 3.3 overs.
Hendricks’ heroic century earned him the Player of the Match award. The final T20I is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at The Wanderers Stadium, where Pakistan will look to restore some pride.