An explosive Saim Ayub fifty and a fiery Salman Mirza spell powered Pakistan to a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20I at Lahore. With this victory, Pakistan levelled the Pakistan vs South Africa T20I series 1-1, setting up a thrilling decider. In particular, Ayub’s unbeaten 71 off 38 balls led a confident chase after Mirza and Faheem Ashraf destroyed South Africa’s batting with pace and variation.
Salman Mirza’s Spell Puts South Africa in Deep Trouble
The match quickly turned in Pakistan’s favour within the first ten overs, thanks to Salman Mirza’s fiery opening spell. Playing only his sixth T20I, the left-arm pacer dismissed Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi early, thereby breaking South Africa’s top order. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf added to the pressure with clever use of slower deliveries, leaving South Africa reeling at 66 for 6. Although Dewald Brevis tried to counterattack with 25 off 16 balls, the visitors eventually crumbled for just 110 runs in 20 overs.
Faheem Ashraf Continues the Damage with Crucial Strikes
Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Faheem Ashraf, maintained full control throughout the innings. Moreover, he removed Brevis and Donovan Ferreira in quick succession before cleaning up George Linde, finishing with 4 for 23. As a result, South Africa struggled to handle Pakistan’s pace-off tactics and poor shot selection. Ultimately, the visitors were bowled out cheaply, giving Pakistan a modest target of 111 to chase.
Saim Ayub Anchors the Chase with a Brilliant Knock
While chasing a small total, Saim Ayub took charge from the very first over. His aggressive approach showcased effortless stroke play all around the ground. Together with Sahibzada Farhan, he built a solid 54-run opening stand and later added an unbeaten 58-run partnership with Babar Azam. Furthermore, Ayub’s two massive sixes off Baartman in the ninth over electrified the Lahore crowd and sealed the game with 41 balls remaining. Consequently, his commanding innings earned Pakistan a crucial win in the Pakistan vs South Africa T20I series.
Babar Azam Becomes Leading Run-Scorer in T20Is
In addition to the team’s victory, Babar Azam became the leading run-scorer in T20Is, surpassing Rohit Sharma. He reached the milestone with a single off Donovan Ferreira, marking his 4232nd run in the format. Importantly, his calm presence ensured Pakistan’s chase ended smoothly as Ayub finished the match with a towering six. Overall, it was a night of records, dominance, and redemption for Pakistan in Lahore.
