KEY POINTS
- South Africa lead the series 1–0, with strong performances from Hendricks and Linde in the opener.
- Pakistan’s batting will need to recover, especially with Babar Azam dismissed for a duck in the first
LAHORE, Pakistan: After a disappointing loss in Rawalpindi, Pakistan will look to level the series when they take on South Africa in the second T20 International of the three-match series at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
The match, set to begin at 8:00pm, will see the home team fight to stay alive in the series after losing the opening encounter by 55 runs.
South Africa lead the series 1–0 and head into the Lahore clash with high spirits after a dominant all-round performance in the first T20I.
Reeza Hendricks’ 60 off 41 balls and Bjorn Linde’s fiery cameo powered the Proteas to a competitive total of 194/9.
In response, Pakistan’s batting faltered, and despite promising starts from Saim Ayub (37) and Sahibzada Farhan (24), they could only manage 139, with Lungi Ngidi and Bosch leading the charge with the ball.
Pakistan will need to regroup and show resilience with the bat, especially after the early dismissal of Babar Azam for a duck in the opener.
Changes to the batting order may be considered, but the core group will remain unchanged, with the middle order tasked with providing the much-needed firepower.
Pakistan Eyeing a Fightback at Home
Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, will also look to make an impact, particularly with Lahore’s conditions expected to offer some early swing under the lights.
The home side will need early breakthroughs to put pressure on the Proteas’ top order.
However, South Africa, who are brimming with confidence, will aim to seal the series in Lahore and avoid a decider in the final match.
Their balanced attack of pace and spin, spearheaded by Ngidi, Bosch, and Linde, rattled Pakistan’s batting lineup in the first match, and they will look to replicate that performance.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is expected to provide a high-scoring contest, but the dew factor could play a role in the second innings.
With the Pinktober awareness campaign continuing, the atmosphere is set to be both festive and socially conscious.
The match is expected to attract a full house as Pakistan seeks to level the series and keep their hopes alive ahead of the final T20I on Saturday.
For South Africa, a win would secure the series and make a powerful statement of intent in the subcontinent.
