1st T20I, Johannesburg, April 10, 2021, 06:00 PM
South Africa
188/6(20.0ov)
Pakistan
189/6(19.5ov)
Pakistan beat South Africa by 4 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Mohammad Rizwan
Commentry
Right then. That is all we have from this game. Pakistan would want to continue this form forward, whereas the hosts will look to bounce back in the second game of the series. The second game will be played on Monday, 12th April 2021 at 1430 local (1230 GMT). Make sure you join us for the same. Until then, cheers and take care!
The Pakistani skipper, Babar Azam says that winning the first game gives them confidence and it was a good game and praises Rizwan for his knock. Feels that their bowling was good in the last 5 overs and Rizwan's innings has made the difference and that is why they have won. States that they just wanted to build the momentum, and with Zaman and Hafeez coming on, he and Rizwan could feel free to play their strokes.
Mohammad Rizwan is named the Man of the Match. He says that it was a tricky track. Adds that his partnership with Zaman was crucial for them. Mentions that you face pressure in international cricket and you have to counter it. Further says that they have a lot of power hitters down the order and they did well to support him.
Heinrich Klaasen, the South Africa skipper, says that they were 15 runs short in the end. Adds that Markram and he were going well in the first innings. Mentions that discipline in the field and with the ball cost them today. Further says the bowlers did not execute their plans. Klaasen also says that they messed up in their fielding. Mentions that they need to execute in the second game and they need to have their game plan clear.
Earlier in the day, due to the exploits of Aiden Markram and Klaasen for the hosts, they managed to post a big total of 188. If these two had not performed so well, then South Africa would have finished very poorly with the bat. With the ball for Pakistan, Mohammed Nawaz and Hasan Ali were phenomenal and it is due to their efforts with the ball, and also Rizwan's wonderful show with the bat, that Pakistan head into the 2nd T20I, with a lead to their name.
You can't expect this bowling attack of South Africa to really perform at their highest level, as this was a very inexperienced line-up. They bowled well in patches across the game and applied pressure on the visitors but they could not sustain the same, for long periods of time. Hendricks was the star with the ball, as he got 3 wickets to his name. Even Shamsi bowled well but in the end, they would feel that they missed out here.
Rizwan, Rizwan, RIZWANNN! This run chase was all about him and how many times now have we seen him batting so wonderfully to take Pakistan over the line? This has been another one of those instances. Pakistan started off nicely with Babar and Rizwan playing some good strokes early on. When Babar departed, Zaman and Rizwan stitched a 45-run stand, which was moving along nicely. When Zaman fell, Pakistan kept losing wickets in heaps at one end, it was Rizwan who held the fort at one end and in the end, some great strokeplay from him and some poor death bowling from the hosts, saw the visitors win the first game of the series.
In over# 1
3
2
4
0W
2
Lizaad Williams 39/1(3.5)
19.5
3
Low full toss on middle, Ali flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs. The fielder fires a direct hit at the bowler's end and it hits the wickets there and deflected away to the off side. The batsmen were aware and ran across to get the extra run and wrap the game up. PAKISTAN WIN BY 4 WICKETS!
19.4
2
Full and outside off, Ali looks to go over long off but mistimes it. It goes towards mid off where Hendricks tries to go for the catch but the ball goes beyond him. The batsmen get two runs.
19.3
4
EDGY FOUR! Not the best shot but it is the result that matters and it is a boundary! Full on off, Ali looks to go big but gets an outside edge. It goes over short third man for a boundary.
19.2
W
OUT! BOWLED! Williams gets his first wicket and breaks the partnership! Good length delivery on middle, Ashraf looks to go big but misses it and gets bowled. Williams doing well to take a wicket here. Also, a dot ball. 9 needed off the last 4 balls now.
19.1
2
DROPPED! Full on middle, Ashraf lofts it over mid on but does not get the distance on it. It goes towards long on where Lubbe tries to take the catch but spills it. Two runs taken. 9 needed off the last 5 balls.
In over# 1
1
1
1
0
4
4
Sisanda Magala 35/0(3)
18.6
1
Full on middle, Ashraf drives it through mid on for a single. 11 needed off the last 6 balls.
18.5
1
Full on middle, Rizwan flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
18.4
1
Good length delivery on middle, Ashraf looks to pull but gets an inside edge. It goes towards square leg. The batsmen cross ends.
18.3
.
Yorker on middle, Ashraf does well to dig it out.
18.2
4
FOUR! Nicely played! Length delivery on leg, Ashraf flicks it past short fine leg for a boundary. 8 runs off the first 2 balls! Another over which starts off well for Pakistan!
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