Win Projections to be updated soon
- Scorecard is available here
Lahore, 1 November 2025:
Pakistan bounced back strongly from their Rawalpindi defeat to level the three-match T20I series, cruising to a nine-wicket win over South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan bowled out South Africa for 110 before chasing down the target in just 13.1 overs, with Saim Ayub smashing an unbeaten 71 off 38 balls. The victory set up a series decider at the same venue on Saturday.
Salman Mirza, recalled in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi, led Pakistan’s pace attack with 3 for 14, while Faheem Ashraf claimed 4 for 23 as South Africa’s batting crumbled early. Only Dewald Brevis offered resistance with a brisk 25 off 16 balls, but the visitors’ poor shot selection and failure to adjust to Pakistan’s variations cost them dearly.
South Africa were 66 for 6 inside 10 overs after Mirza and Faheem ripped through the top order. Mirza struck in his opening over, trapping Reeza Hendricks for a duck and then removing Tony de Zorzi with a clever slower-ball bouncer. In between, Quinton de Kock was caught off a slower delivery from Naseem Shah, leaving South Africa reeling at 12 for 2.
Mirza added his third when Matthew Breetzke was bowled through the gate to make it 23 for 4. Faheem then took over, dismissing Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, and George Linde in quick succession as South Africa slid to 73 for 7 before being bowled out in the final over.
Pakistan’s chase was clinical. Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub added 54 runs for the opening wicket before Farhan was trapped lbw for 28 off Corbin Bosch. Ayub continued to dominate, producing a 360-degree display of strokeplay that included six fours and five sixes. He hammered Ottneil Baartman for 21 runs in the ninth over, including a no-look pick-up shot over square leg that brought the crowd to its feet.
Babar Azam (11 not out) partnered Ayub in an unbroken 58-run stand, calmly guiding Pakistan home. During his brief stay, Babar became the leading run-scorer in T20 internationals, overtaking India’s Rohit Sharma with 4,232 runs.
Pakistan reached 112 for 1 with 41 balls remaining to complete a dominant victory and set up a decisive final match.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 112 for 1 (Ayub 71, Farhan 28) beat South Africa 110 (Brevis 25, Faheem 4-23, Mirza 3-14) by nine wickets.
