South Africa, missing several key players including regular skipper Aiden Markram, stand-in captain David Miller, and pacer Gerald Coetzee due to injuries or rest, fielded a relatively inexperienced side. Despite these absences, openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock gave the Proteas a brisk start, with Hendricks in particular showing aggressive intent against the Pakistani pace attack. After de Kock’s early dismissal by Saim Ayub, debutant Tony de Zorzi joined Hendricks, and the pair maintained a run rate above 12 per over inside the powerplay, propelling South Africa to their highest-ever T20I powerplay score against Pakistan.
However, the momentum shifted as Pakistan’s spinners tightened their grip. Mohammad Nawaz delivered a match-defining spell, taking three wickets for just 26 runs in his four overs, including crucial breakthroughs of de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis in quick succession. Saim Ayub, impactful with both bat and ball, complemented Nawaz by dismissing Breetzke and disrupting South Africa’s rhythm. Despite a stylish half-century from Hendricks, who reached fifty in 33 balls, the Proteas struggled to maintain their early momentum, reaching 145/5 after 15 overs and needing a late surge to approach the competitive 200-run mark typical at Rawalpindi.
Both squads featured a mix of youth and experience. Pakistan’s XI included Babar Azam, who was just 8 runs away from surpassing Rohit Sharma as the leading run-scorer in T20I history, and the returning Naseem Shah, playing his first match since November 2024. The Proteas, led by Donovan Ferreira, relied on their younger stars to step up in the absence of senior players.
Historically, matches between these two sides have been closely contested. In their 24 T20I meetings, Pakistan holds a narrow edge with 12 victories to South Africa’s 11, and one no-result. Notably, Pakistan boasts a home winning percentage exceeding 60%, and the Rawalpindi pitch has recently favored batters, with an average first-innings score of 212 in 2025.
This match also carried a special off-field significance. As part of the “Pink Ribbon Pakistan” campaign during #PINKtober, both teams and the umpires donned pink ribbons to raise breast cancer awareness, with Pakistan wearing a special pink jersey.
The match is not televised live in India but is available for international viewers via Willow TV in the USA. For fans seeking detailed ball-by-ball coverage, ESPNcricinfo provides comprehensive live scores and commentary.
With both teams aiming to start the series strong, the opener at Rawalpindi delivered a blend of individual brilliance, tactical nuance, and the promise of more drama to come as the series unfolds.