Pakistan and South Africa level the T20I series as Saim and Salman Mirza impress

 Lahore, October 31, 2025: 

Following a brilliant all-around performance spearheaded by bowler Salman Mirza and opener Saim Ayub, Pakistan defeated South Africa by nine wickets on Friday night at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to tie the match 1-1 and launch a comeback into the three-match

 

T20I series.
On Saturday, November 1, both teams will play in the series' third and final Twenty20 International at the same location. At 8 p.m. local time, the first ball of the game will be bowled.
 

Saim's brilliant 71 not out off 38 balls, 

which included six fours and five sixes, helped Pakistan easily win in just 13.1 overs while chasing a small 111-run target at a crowded stadium. 

Babar surpassed Rohit Sharma's record of 4231 runs in 159 games to become the best run scorer in T20Is during his knock of 11.Earlier, South Africa was bowled out for 110 in 19.2 overs as Pakistan's pace attack tore through their batting order. 

Salman Mirza, who was playing his debut Twenty20 International in Lahore after replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi, made an immediate impression with three for 14 in his four overs, while right-arm quick Faheem Ashraf shone with figures of four for 23.

Salman's early twin attack, which dismissed Tony de Zorzi for seven and Reeza Hendricks for a duck, left South Africa unable to recover. Dewald Brevis scored a quick 25 off 16 balls, but the tourists continued to lose wickets on a regular basis.

Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, and Ottneil Baartman were all eliminated by Faheem's quick rushes, strengthening Pakistan's hold on the match.

As South Africa was bowled out in the last over, only Lungi Ngidi produced some late fireworks with an undefeated seven off three balls, including a six.

Babar steadily anchored the chase while Saim pounced on the bowlers right away, hitting Ottneil Baartman for three sixes in one over.


South Africa was defeated by Pakistan by nine wickets.

In 19.2 overs, South Africa scored 110 all out (Dewald Brevis 25; Faheem Ashraf 4-23, Salman Mirza 3-14, Naseem 2-28).

Pakistan 112-1, 13.1 overs (Babar Azam 11 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 28, and Saim Ayub 71 not out)

Player of the game: Pakistan's Salman Mirza