LAHORE: After losing the first game, Pakistan is going to try to make a comeback in the second T20 series match against South Africa which is going to be held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore today.
As per details, the first match with a good performance was won by the South African team at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and they are currently leading the series 1-0. In order to level the series, the Pakistani players are going to show their determination on the field.
In the first match of the series, South Africa defeated Pakistan by 55 runs in the first T20I, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The match, played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, saw the national team all out for 139 runs in 18.1 overs while chasing a target of 195 runs.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub top-scored with 37 runs, and Babar Azam contributed 36 runs. Captain Salman Ali Agha managed only 2 runs, Usman Khan scored 12, and Hasan Ali was dismissed for just 3 runs.
South Africa’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance, with Corbin Bush claiming 4 wickets, George Linde taking 3, and Lizad Williams adding 2 wickets to their tally.
Earlier, the visiting team batted first and scored 194 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Reeza Hendricks was the standout performer with 60 runs, while George scored 36 and Tony de Zorzi contributed 33 runs. Quinton de Kock was out for 23, dismissed by Saim Ayub.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz took 3 wickets, Saim Ayub claimed 2, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed each took one wicket.
With this victory, South Africa also set a record for the highest total by any team in Pindi. Previously, New Zealand had scored 194 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in April 2023.
The two teams have faced each other 24 times before, with each side winning 12 matches, indicating a level playing field in this format. The Proteas are playing a T20 series in Pakistan for the first time since 2021, and both teams have practiced extensively for the series.
Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam is making his comeback to the T20 format after a 10-month absence. He has the opportunity to become the all-time number one batsman in T20 cricket by scoring just 9 more runs.
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Test cricket takes a new turn with tea break before lunch
It is worth mentioning here that the history of Test cricket will be altered in a very significant way by the introduction of a tea break before the lunch interval for the first time ever. The new format will be launched during the second Test match between India and South Africa which will be held in Guwahati on November 22.
As per the Indian media, the decision is a direct consequence of the early sunrise and early sunset in the eastern region of India. The Indian and South African cricket boards have jointly decided to change the session timings so that they can better fit with the weather of the area.
The Test match scheduled as per the new timings will start at 9 in the morning. The first session is planned from 9 to 11 in the morning. A tea break will be there from 11 to 11:20. The second session will be from 11:20 to 1:20, and there will be a lunch break from 1:20 to 2.
Following the change, the first-ever instance in the entire history of the game where the traditional tea time in Test Cricket has been shifted to before the lunch break has been used to mark a completely new chapter in the sport’s history. The change is also expected to delight the players and fans alike as it will make the game more enjoyable and accessible.
