Babar Azam led Pakistan to a decisive series victory against South Africa, scoring a remarkable 68 runs off 46 balls in a match held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 16, 2024. His performance was pivotal in chasing down South Africa’s total of 139 runs, allowing Pakistan to secure a four-wicket win and clinch the series 2-1.
Pakistan’s chase began cautiously after winning the toss and opting to bat second. South Africa, after being asked to bat first, posted a total of 139 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Despite an initial setback, including the dismissal of left-handed opener Saim Ayub, who recorded his fifth duck in the last ten T20 innings, Pakistan steadied its innings with Babar’s commanding performance at the crease.
Babar, who had been absent from T20 cricket for nearly a year before his return to the squad, demonstrated his ability to absorb pressure. He initially faced challenges against South African left-arm spinner George Linde but quickly adapted, finding his rhythm against the pace bowlers. His innings included a significant partnership of 76 runs with captain Salman Ali Agha, who contributed 33 runs to the total.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with over 32,000 fans cheering as Babar reached his half-century with three consecutive boundaries against fast bowler Ottneil Baartman. His aggressive yet calculated approach saw him accelerate the scoring rate effectively, contributing significantly to the team’s total.
As the match neared its conclusion, Pakistan faced a minor collapse, losing four wickets for just 14 runs. Babar eventually fell to a short ball from Bosch, caught by Reeza Hendricks at deep backward square leg with only 15 runs needed for victory. Despite this setback, Pakistan reached their target in 19 overs, successfully sealing the series win.
Reflecting on his performance, Babar stated, “This innings was long due. I backed myself, the team believed in me. I wanted to do what the team needed, play according to the situation.” His return to form follows a challenging start in the series, where he was dismissed for a duck in the first match but rebounded to surpass Rohit Sharma’s record for most runs in T20 cricket in the second match.
In South Africa’s innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to the squad after resting in the second game, made an immediate impact by taking three wickets, including those of Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over. The South African batting order struggled against Pakistan’s bowlers, with mystery off-spinner Usman Tariq impressing on his T20 debut, claiming two wickets for just 26 runs.
South Africa’s innings saw them crumble to 76 runs for six wickets by the 12th over, but an unbeaten 30 runs off 23 balls from Bosch provided some late resistance. His contributions, however, were not enough to steer the Proteas to a competitive total in the face of disciplined bowling from the Pakistani side.
This victory marks a crucial step for Pakistan as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, underlining the importance of finding the right batting combination and building momentum ahead of the tournament.
