Reeza Hendricks’ Century Leads South Africa to Series Win Over Pakistan
South Africa 210 for 3 (Hendricks 117, van der Dussen 66, Jahandad 2-40) beat Pakistan 206 for 5 (Ayub 98, Azam 31, Irfan 30, Galiem 2-21) by five wickets**
Reeza Hendricks smashed his first T20I century, marking a monumental moment in his 10-year international career, as South Africa chased down 206 to seal their first bilateral T20I series win since August 2022. Hendricks’ knock, alongside Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 66*, ensured South Africa registered the third-highest successful chase at SuperSport Park.
South Africa Break the Drought
For over two years, South Africa had not lifted a T20I series trophy, their last success coming against Ireland in 2022. Under Rob Walter’s white-ball leadership, this series win marks his first since taking over as head coach in March 2023.
Hendricks and van der Dussen’s Partnership Leads the Chase
Chasing a challenging target of 207, South Africa lost two early wickets to Jahandad Khan’s double strike. However, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen orchestrated a game-changing 157-run stand off 83 balls. Hendricks’ innings of 117 off 63 balls, featuring 10 sixes and 7 fours, was a masterclass in power-hitting and timing.
Van der Dussen played the perfect supporting role, scoring a composed 66* and hitting the winning runs with three balls to spare, ensuring South Africa’s victory.
Pakistan’s Power Start Falls Short
Pakistan had an opportunity to post a bigger total after racing to 103 for 1 in 11 overs. Saim Ayub led the charge with a scintillating 98* off 61 balls, hitting clean boundaries and showcasing his ability to anchor and accelerate. He was complemented by Babar Azam (31) and Irfan Khan (30), but the middle overs hurt Pakistan’s momentum.
Debutant Dayyaan Galiem and George Linde tightened South Africa’s bowling grip, restricting Pakistan to 206 when they could have scored more. Galiem finished with figures of 2 for 21, showing glimpses of promise despite some nervy moments in the field.
Dayyaan Galiem’s Rollercoaster Debut
Dayyaan Galiem’s debut was anything but ordinary. Called into the squad unexpectedly after Anrich Nortje’s injury, Galiem impressed with the ball, taking two crucial wickets, including Usman Khan and Tayyab Tahir. However, he dropped a catch earlier that allowed Ayub to capitalize and build his innings.
Despite the highs and lows, Galiem’s figures of 2 for 21 in his four overs gave South Africa much-needed control during Pakistan’s innings.
Hendricks Silences Critics With a Masterclass
Just a day after being dropped from South Africa’s ODI squad, Hendricks answered his critics emphatically. He started cautiously before exploding into action, reaching his maiden T20I century in just 54 balls.
By the time he was dismissed, South Africa needed only 21 runs off 14 balls—a target they achieved comfortably. Hendricks’ innings not only won the game but reaffirmed his importance to South Africa’s T20 setup.
Jahandad Khan Shines With Early Strikes
For Pakistan, Jahandad Khan made an immediate impact, taking two wickets in his opening spell. His ability to swing the ball and mix up his lengths troubled the South African top order, leaving them 28 for 2 early in the chase.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, they failed to capitalize on this start, as Hendricks and van der Dussen took control of the innings.
Conclusion
Reeza Hendricks’ historic innings will be remembered as the cornerstone of South Africa’s return to winning ways in T20I cricket. The partnership between Hendricks and van der Dussen dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack and brought joy to the South African camp after a prolonged drought. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub’s heroics and Jahandad Khan’s bowling offered positives, but a failure to close out the game cost them the series.
With this win, South Africa look to build momentum as they aim to make a strong statement in white-ball cricket under Rob Walter’s leadership.
