By By Khurram Shehzad Awan | October 29, 2025South Africa drew first blood in the three-match T20 International series by thrashing Pakistan by 55 runs in the opening encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. The visitors, led by Reeza Hendricks’ classy half-century and Corbin Bosch’s fiery four-wicket haul, outplayed the hosts in all departments to take a 1–0 lead.
Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa posted a formidable 194 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Reeza Hendricks anchored the innings with a fluent 60 off 40 balls, striking eight boundaries and a six, while Tony de Zorzi (33 off 16) and Quinton de Kock (23 off 13) provided early acceleration. Pakistan’s bowlers showed flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent lengths and loose deliveries at the death cost them nearly 25 extra runs.
Pakistan’s reply never gained momentum. Babar Azam, returning to the T20 fold after a brief rest, fell for a duck — a setback that sent early tremors through the top order. The home side crumbled to 139 all out in 18.1 overs, undone by pace, bounce, and poor shot selection. Only Mohammad Nawaz (36 off 20 balls) offered some resistance with counter-attacking strokes late in the innings.
For South Africa, Corbin Bosch was the star with the ball, claiming 4 for 14 in a brilliant spell that dismantled Pakistan’s middle order. Bjorn Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee provided crucial breakthroughs to seal the emphatic win.
🧠 Analytical Report: Lessons from Rawalpindi
1️⃣ Toss and Tactical Misjudgment
Rawalpindi’s record continues to favor teams batting first — and Tuesday was no exception. All completed T20Is at this venue have been won by the side setting the target. Pakistan’s decision to bowl first backfired as the pitch offered even pace early on, and the dew factor did not materialize later to assist the chase.
2️⃣ Batting Under Pressure
Chasing 195 required composure and intent — both missing from Pakistan’s innings. The early loss of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman left Pakistan reeling, and their inability to build partnerships proved fatal. The batting collapse mirrored old concerns: an over-reliance on the top order and lack of finishing power in the middle overs.
3️⃣ South Africa’s Smart Adaptation
South Africa’s planning stood out. Their batters targeted Rawalpindi’s shorter square boundaries effectively, while their bowlers exploited the extra bounce available under lights. Bosch’s use of slower bouncers and back-of-length deliveries highlighted tactical awareness rarely seen in visiting attacks in Pakistan.
4️⃣ Pakistan’s Bowling: Hot and Cold
Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah bowled with aggression but lacked consistency. Both found movement but failed to maintain pressure. Haris Rauf, usually reliable at the death, leaked runs in the final overs as South Africa surged past 190 — a total that proved unchaseable given Pakistan’s batting struggles.
5️⃣ Psychological Edge to South Africa
Winning the opening game in foreign conditions gives South Africa the upper hand mentally. For Pakistan, it’s another wake-up call ahead of the second T20I — to reassess selection balance, batting intent, and use of conditions.
📊 Score Summary
South Africa – 194/9 (20 overs)
Reeza Hendricks 60, de Zorzi 33, de Kock 23; Shaheen Afridi 2/35, Nawaz 2/28
Pakistan – 139 all out (18.1 overs)
Nawaz 36, Saim Ayub 37; Corbin Bosch 4/14, Fortuin 2/27
Result: South Africa won by 55 runs
Player of the Match: Corbin Bosch
