CRICKET
The Pakistan national cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team contest featured an exciting first T20I of South Africa's 2025–26 tour of Pakistan. The match took place on October 28, 2025, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first. South Africa responded with a powerful batting display, scoring 194/9 in 20 overs. Pakistan's chase lost momentum, and the hosts were bowled out for 139 in 18.1 overs. South Africa therefore secured a 55-run victory. George Linde earned Player of the Match honors for his all-round contribution.
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs South Africa |
| Format | T20 International |
| Series | South Africa Tour of Pakistan 2025–26 |
| Match | 1st T20I |
| Date | October 28, 2025 |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| Toss | Pakistan chose to field |
| South Africa | 194/9 |
| Pakistan | 139 all out |
| Result | South Africa won by 55 runs |
| Player of the Match | George Linde |
| Top South Africa Batter | Reeza Hendricks – 60 |
| Top Pakistan Batter | Saim Ayub – 37 |
| Best South Africa Bowler | George Linde – 3 wickets |
The official Pakistan Cricket Board scorecard confirms the match details and final result.
South Africa batted first after Pakistan captain chose to field. The visitors quickly established a strong scoring rate, with Reeza Hendricks leading the innings.
Hendricks produced the highest score of the South African innings, making 60 runs from 40 balls. He struck five fours and one six during an aggressive innings that gave South Africa an excellent platform.
Tony de Zorzi added 33 from just 16 balls, while Quinton de Kock contributed 23 from 13 deliveries. George Linde then provided another major boost with 36 from 22 balls.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reeza Hendricks | 60 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Quinton de Kock | 23 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 176.92 |
| Tony de Zorzi | 33 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 206.25 |
| Dewald Brevis | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Matthew Breetzke | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Donovan Ferreira | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| George Linde | 36 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 163.64 |
| Corbin Bosch | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Lizaad Williams | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Nandre Burger | 0* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lungi Ngidi | Did not bat | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 194/9 | 20 overs | 9.70 RR |
The official scorecard lists South Africa at 194/9 after 20 overs.
Pakistan used several bowling options to contain South Africa, and Mohammad Nawaz emerged as the leading wicket-taker.
Nawaz claimed 3 wickets for 26 runs from four overs. Saim Ayub also picked up two wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed each took one.
Despite those wickets, South Africa maintained a strong scoring rate throughout the innings. The visitors finished with 194 runs, giving Pakistan a demanding target of 195.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 45 | 1 |
| Naseem Shah | 3 | 34 | 1 |
| Saim Ayub | 4 | 31 | 2 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 42 | 1 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 | 26 | 3 |
Pakistan needed 195 runs to win, but the chase never developed into a sustained partnership.
Saim Ayub top-scored for Pakistan with 37 from 28 balls. He hit one four and four sixes and provided some momentum during the middle part of the innings.
Sahibzada Farhan added 24 from 19 balls, while Mohammad Nawaz made an aggressive 36 from only 20 deliveries. However, wickets fell regularly, preventing Pakistan from building the partnerships required for a successful chase.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | 24 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 126.32 |
| Saim Ayub | 37 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 132.14 |
| Babar Azam | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| Usman Khan | 12 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Hasan Nawaz | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 36 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 180.00 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Naseem Shah | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 0* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 139 all out | 18.1 overs | 7.65 RR |
South Africa's bowlers maintained pressure throughout Pakistan's chase. George Linde delivered the most influential spell, taking three wickets while conceding 21 runs from his four overs.
Corbin Bosch also played an important role, taking two wickets. Lizaad Williams claimed two wickets as well, while Lungi Ngidi took one.
The regular fall of wickets prevented Pakistan's middle order from establishing control. South Africa eventually dismissed the hosts for 139, completing a comfortable 55-run victory.
George Linde was central to South Africa's victory. He first contributed with the bat, scoring 36 from 22 balls, including four fours and one six.
He then returned with the ball and took three wickets for 21 runs. That combination made him one of the most influential players on the field and earned him the Player of the Match award.
One of the first major moments came during South Africa's powerplay, when the visitors quickly pushed the scoring rate upward. De Kock and de Zorzi both struck at more than 170, putting Pakistan's bowlers under pressure.
Hendricks then anchored the innings with his 60. His contribution ensured that South Africa continued to score heavily even as Pakistan picked up wickets.
Pakistan's chase never gained enough momentum. Although Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz produced attacking innings, South Africa continued taking wickets at important moments.
The final wicket fell when Mohammad Nawaz was dismissed for 36, leaving Pakistan at 139 and giving South Africa a 55-run win.
Reeza Hendricks was South Africa's leading run-scorer. He made 60 runs from 40 balls, with five fours and one six.
His innings provided the stability South Africa needed alongside the attacking contributions from de Zorzi and Linde.
Saim Ayub finished as Pakistan's highest scorer with 37 runs from 28 balls. His four sixes gave Pakistan some attacking momentum, but he could not stay at the crease long enough to take the chase deep.
Mohammad Nawaz came close with 36 from 20 balls and recorded the highest strike rate among Pakistan's main contributors.
Read more related article India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
South Africa defeated Pakistan by 55 runs.
The visitors scored 194/9 in 20 overs, while Pakistan managed 139 all out in 18.1 overs. The result gave South Africa an early advantage in the T20I series.
The scorecard shows a match in which South Africa controlled the game through a combination of aggressive batting and consistent wicket-taking.
Hendricks' 60 provided the foundation, while de Zorzi and Linde accelerated the scoring. Linde then returned to make a major impact with the ball.
Pakistan's chase featured useful knocks from Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz, but the regular loss of wickets kept the required run rate out of reach.
The Pakistan National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team match scorecard from the first T20I of the 2025–26 tour records a convincing 55-run victory for South Africa.
South Africa's 194/9 gave Pakistan a challenging target, and the visitors then kept control during the chase. Reeza Hendricks led the batting effort with 60, while George Linde made a decisive all-round contribution. Pakistan's Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz showed flashes of attacking cricket, but South Africa's bowling attack consistently found wickets.
South Africa scored 194/9 in 20 overs, while Pakistan was dismissed for 139 in 18.1 overs. South Africa won by 55 runs.
South Africa won by 55 runs after defending a total of 194.
George Linde received the Player of the Match award for his 36-run innings and three-wicket bowling performance.
Reeza Hendricks scored 60 runs from 40 balls, including five fours and one six.
Saim Ayub made 37 runs from 28 balls, including one four and four sixes.
South Africa posted 194/9 in 20 overs after batting first.
Pakistan was bowled out for 139 in 18.1 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz was Pakistan's leading wicket-taker, finishing with 3 wickets for 26 runs.
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