Pakistan VS South Africa T20 International Series 2021
1st Match Played at Lahore on 11 February 2021

Pakistan 169/6 in 20 Overs (Mohammad Rizwan 104, Haidar Ali 19, Hussain Talat 15, Andile Phehehlukwaya 2/33) beat 
South Africa 166/5 In 20 overs (Reza Hendricks 54, Janneman Malan 44, Bjorn Fortuin 17*, Dwaine Pretorious 15*, Usman Qadir 2/21, Harris Rauf 2/44) by 3 Runs. 
Player of The Match: Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan won a cliffhanger against South Africa by 3 runs. There was very little to choose between two evenly matched outfit of Pakistan and South Africa. The first match of the three matches T20 International between host Pakistan and touring South Africa went down to the wire. Batting first Pakistan riding on a great 104 by Rizwan posted a challenging 169/6 in the allotted overs. South Africa could manage 166/6.

South Africa made a cracking start with openers Malan and Hendricks putting on 53 in 7 overs. But once they got out Pakistan squeezed a little bit. Yet free flowing Protean middle order kept pace and required 30 for a win in the last two overs. Harris Rauf and Shaeen Afridi just managed to pip Protean to the post. South Africa required 5 runs for a win on the last delivery but could manage 2 and thereby lost by 3 runs. Pakistan went 1-0 ahead with two back-to-back matches to be played on 13 and 14th February. Needless mentioning that two teams are working out the best combinations with eyes to ICC T20 Championship 2021 at the end of the year in India.
 
Pakistan put into bat by the visitors ran into immediate crisis as their flamboyant skipper top ranked T20 batsman Babar Azom ran himself out on the first ball he faced from terrible mix up with Rizwan. This followed with a useful 36 runs second with stand between Rizwan and Haider Ali. Though Rizwan batted with usual flair South Africans did not let others set roots at the wicket taking wickets at regular interval. Rizwan mortared along. He struck 6 fours and 7 sixes in his unbeaten innings of 104 in 64 deliveries. Without his brilliant innings Pakistan innings could be in shambles. 169/6 was a challenging score to defend.

New look South African outfit started well racing to 53 in the opening partnership by the 7th over. However, once leggie Usman Qadir son of Pakistan Leg Spinning Mastro Abdul Qadir cleaned up Malan Pakistan bowled and fielded well setting squeeze on Protean batting. Middle order could not keep the momentum going. The onus was left on well set Reza Hendricks who himself got run out in bizarre fashion scoring 54 off 42 deliveries. Still the match entered critical stage with 30 runs required in the last two overs with 4 wickets at hand. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi bowling the last two somehow manage to restrict visitors to 3 runs away from earning a victory. Pakistan won the cliffhanger. Protean required an over boundary in the last ball.

BDST: 1220 HRS, FEB 12, 2021
AP