Babar and Shaheen's Dominance Secures Pakistan's T20I Series Victory
The Pakistani home crowd witnessed a commanding performance from Babar Azam and a series win. His graceful 68 runs off 47 balls, his 40th 50+ score in T20Is, was the cornerstone of Pakistan's pursuit of 140 against South Africa in Lahore. Babar guided his team to a four-wicket victory with an over to spare, sealing the T20I series 2-1.
The evening commenced with Shaheen Afridi in top form, dismantling South Africa's top order in an opening over that left the visitors stunned. By the time Babar received a standing ovation, the Gaddafi Stadium crowd had witnessed both their stars in full flow.
Shaheen set the tone early as Pakistan opted to bowl. He dismissed Quinton de Kock and Lungi Ngidi in a brilliant first over. De Kock was caught by late movement bringing the ball back into him, hitting the inside edge and toppling the stumps. Ngidi was caught at short fine leg on the first ball. Shaheen almost claimed a third when a sharp in-ducker hit Dewald Brevis on the knee, but DRS showed it had bounced too high. South Africa struggled, reaching 22 for 2 in the PowerPlay, their third-lowest score in T20I history.
Reeza Hendricks led a recovery with 38 off 34, and Brevis and Donovan Ferreira provided some momentum in the middle overs. Mohammad Nawaz, introduced after the PowerPlay, conceded 38 runs in three overs. Faheem Ashraf's double strike halted the visitors again, and when Bosch ran out of partners, his unbeaten 30 off 23 took them to 139 for 8, a total that seemed low once early movement disappeared.
Pakistan's response started shaky, with Saim Ayub dismissed for a six-ball duck, and South Africa's new-ball pair kept things tight. Corbin Bosch and George Linde operated with discipline, pushing the asking rate close to eight by the eighth over. Babar, playing with calm control, kept the innings steady with precise placement and quick running.
He found his rhythm with a series of sweetly timed boundaries, including three off the sweep. Babar and Agha Salman rebuilt steadily, their 76-run stand in 52 balls effectively securing the win. Babar brought up his first T20I fifty since May 2024 with a crisp stroke past cover. By the time both fell within five runs of each other near the finish, the game was well out of South Africa's reach.
This performance showcased Pakistan's strength: Shaheen's early breakthroughs and Babar's serene batting. After a period of inconsistency, it offered fans a glimpse of the team's familiar backbone, and the celebration at Gaddafi Stadium spoke volumes.
