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Babar Azam’s return to the shortest format ended in disappointment, as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck during Pakistan’s opening T20I of the three-match series against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 28. The match, which marked Babar’s comeback after a short layoff, quickly turned into a nightmare for the star batter.
Babar Azam departs for a two-ball duck on T20I comeback
Coming in to bat at No. 3, Babar faced a fiery delivery from South African pacer Corbin Bosch, mistiming his shot straight into the hands of Reeza Hendricks at cover. The dismissal stunned the Rawalpindi crowd, as Babar was just nine runs away from breaking Rohit Sharma’s all-time T20I runs record.
Here’s the video:
Babar Azam vs Pakistan🔥
Believable player.
— ħ (@shaheenhive)
His early exit not only dented Pakistan’s chase but also added to the frustration of fans who had been eagerly waiting for the star batter’s return. Earlier, in South Africa’s innings, Babar dropped a crucial catch – a moment that came back to haunt Pakistan as George Linde went on to capitalize with a quickfire cameo.
South Africa pile on runs with Reeza Hendricks leading the charge
Batting first, South Africa posted a challenging 194/9 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a strong top-order performance. Reeza Hendricks was the star of the show, crafting a 60-run knock off just 40 balls, decorated with elegant strokes and calculated aggression.
All-rounder George Linde added valuable runs down the order with 36 off 22 balls, taking full advantage of his early reprieve. Despite losing wickets at intervals, South Africa maintained a brisk scoring rate, ensuring Pakistan faced a steep target under lights.
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the Proteas’ momentum, with pacers failing to find consistency in the death overs. For the hosts, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers with 3/46.
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Pakistan’s batting collapses under pressure
Pakistan’s pursuit of 195 got off to a disastrous start and their innings faltered almost immediately. While opener Sahibzada Farhan’s brisk 24 provided a brief spark, the home team’s top order quickly crumbled under South African pressure.
Only the resilient batting of Saim Ayub (37 off 28) and Mohammad Nawaz (36 off 20) offered any meaningful resistance. However, Pakistan never recovered from the early damage. Bosch was the chief destroyer, ripping through the middle and lower order with exceptional figures of 4 for 14. He was ably supported by Linde’s left-arm spin (3 for 31) and Lizaad Williams (2 wickets) as Pakistan ultimately folded for a mere 139 in 18.1 overs.
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