Pakistan VS South Africa T20 International Series 
1st Match Played at Wanderers, Johannesburg on 10 April, 2021
Pakistan 189/6 in 19.5 Overs (Mohammad Rizwan 74*, Fakhar Zaman 24, Beuran Hendricks 3/34, Tabraiz Shamsi 2/29)
South Africa 188/6 in 20 Overs (Aiden Markram 51, Henrich Klassen 50, Pite van Bijjon 34, Mohammad Nawaz 2/21, Hasan Ali 2/28)
Pakistan Won by 4 wickets
Pakistan Went Ahead 1-0 In The Series. 
Player Of The Match: Mohammad Rizwan 

As many as 10 first team players of South Africa are now in IPL 2021 duty with respective franchise in India. Appearing with virtually its second-string South Africa gave a good account of the depth of its rich talent as they went down fighting against a very strong Pakistan team only on the penultimate ball of the match. Scoring 189/6 in 19.5 overs Pakistan scaled across South African score of 188/6. Pakistan made a good start of the 4 matches T20 series. For teams it is a great way of preparation for the ICC T20 championship scheduled for India towards end 2021. Pakistan players have no scope for playing in IPL a more of politic prevailing over sporting ties. 

However, this has given a very rare opportunity for South Africa testing their bench strength against a very strong Pakistan team.  They have given a good account of them taking the match down to the wire, making Pakistan fight for every run.

In T20 usually teams winning the toss let the opposition to bat. But perhaps Protea captain Klassen thought it wise not to let his young team chase a huge target. In his opinion it was better letting his team bat without tension and set a target. The ploy worked as his team did set a steep target scoring 188/6. Aiden Markram looked fluent at the top scoring 51 in 32 deliveries. Captain himself scored a fluent 50 in 28 balls. None should expect that young side would have the depth for taking the score beyond Pakistan’s reach dealing with great Pakistan, which is good to taste even the full-strength South Africa team. South Africa appearing without 10 top players did not do all that bad scoring 1188/6. 

Bowling smartly and fielding sharp South Africa made Pakistan fight for every run. It was only the flamboyance of Rizwan (74* in 50 balls) and late surge of all rounder Fahim Ashraf ( 30 in 14 deliveries) that saved the day for the visitors . When Fahim got out on the 19.2 Over South Africa was dreaming for a win even at Pakistan 180/6 still needing 9 for the win in four balls. Hasan Ali (9*) and Rizwan (74*) carried Pakistan safely across with only 1 ball to spare. 

BDST: 1543 HRS, APR 11, 2021
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