By Razeen Gutta
- Corbin Bosch took four wickets for just 14 runs as South Africa bowled out Pakistan for 139 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
- Reeza Hendricks hit 60 runs from 40 balls to guide the Proteas to 194 before brilliant bowling sealed a 55-run win.
South Africa opened their tour in style with a 55-run win over Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Reeza Hendricks and Corbin Bosch starred in a complete team performance that saw the Proteas dominate both with bat and ball.
Batting first, the Proteas reached 194 for nine in their 20 overs. Hendricks smashed 60 runs off just 40 balls, while George Linde added 36 from 22 and Tony de Zorzi hit 33 from 16. Their quick scoring gave South Africa a strong start before Pakistan’s bowlers fought back in the middle overs.
Pakistan’s reply never got going. Bosch delivered his best bowling figures of 4 for 14, tearing through the top order and keeping the home side under pressure. Linde and Lizaad Williams added key wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 139.
Hendricks was also sharp in the field, taking a key catch to remove Pakistan captain Babar Azam for a duck – a moment that lifted the Proteas’ energy even higher.
Proteas captain Donovan Ferreira praised his side for sticking to their plan and playing smart cricket.
“It was a collective effort,” he said. “We started really well with the bat and kept it simple with the ball, just hitting the right areas.”
The win gives South Africa a strong start to the series, with the next two games to be played in Lahore on Friday and Saturday.
Pictured above: Proteas celebrate their win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Image source: @proteasmencsa
