Reeza Hendricks’ Maiden T20I Ton Secures South Africa’s First Series Win Since 2022

In a stunning display of batting brilliance, Reeza Hendricks’ maiden T20I century powered South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second match of their three-match series at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

The win marked South Africa’s first bilateral T20I series triumph since August 2022, with the Proteas chasing down a formidable target of 207 to clinch the series.

Pakistan’s Explosive Start

Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a challenging total of 206/5. The innings was anchored by opener Saim Ayub, who delivered an unbeaten 98 off 57 balls.

Ayub displayed a full array of shots, including pulls, flicks, and sweeps, as he dominated the South African bowlers.

Despite losing captain Mohammad Rizwan early, Ayub’s partnership with Babar Azam stabilized Pakistan’s innings, taking the score to 101/1 after 11 overs.

South Africa’s bowlers, led by debutant Dayyaan Galiem and spinner George Linde, fought back in the middle overs. The duo’s tight bowling reduced Pakistan to 136/4 by the 16th over.

However, Ayub, in collaboration with Irfan Khan, accelerated in the death overs, adding 73 runs from 32 balls for the fifth wicket. Ayub’s effort propelled Pakistan to a competitive total, though he fell just short of his maiden T20I century.

South Africa’s Record-Breaking Chase

Chasing a daunting target of 207, South Africa faced early setbacks as Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke were dismissed within the powerplay.

With the score at 28/2, Reeza Hendricks stepped up to steady the innings. Known for his technical prowess, Hendricks showcased his aggressive side, taking on Pakistan’s bowlers with a calculated assault.

Hendricks’ partnership with Rassie van der Dussen proved pivotal. The pair shared a 157-run stand for the third wicket, dismantling Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Hendricks, often criticized for his slow starts, showed intent from the outset, smashing Haris Rauf for consecutive sixes and maintaining a brisk scoring rate throughout the innings.

By the 14th over, the duo had brought up a century partnership. Hendricks reached his maiden T20I century off just 54 balls, becoming the seventh South African to achieve the milestone.

His innings featured 10 sixes and seven boundaries, with a majority of his shots targeting the shorter leg-side boundary.

Van der Dussen, meanwhile, played a perfect supporting role, bringing up his half-century in 33 balls. Hendricks eventually fell for 117, but by then, the game was well within South Africa’s grasp.

Captain Heinrich Klaasen and van der Dussen finished the chase in style, with the latter sealing the victory with a six.

A Milestone Victory for the Proteas

The win was significant for South Africa, marking their third-highest successful run chase in T20Is at SuperSport Park.

It also handed head coach Rob Walter his first T20I series win since taking charge of the white-ball team in March 2023.

Reflecting on his innings, Hendricks said, “First over, five dots and got away, and so the moment I got that away, things started to click. I’m happy that I found the middle and things worked out in the end.”

Hendricks’ knock silenced critics and reaffirmed his status as a key player in South Africa’s T20 setup. His ability to accelerate under pressure and dominate bowlers was on full display, providing the Proteas with a blueprint for future successes.

Pakistan’s Bright Spot: Saim Ayub

Despite the loss, Pakistan found a silver lining in Saim Ayub’s performance. The young opener, who had scored a maiden ODI century just weeks earlier, continued to impress with his consistency and flair. His innings was a testament to his growing stature in international cricket.

Pakistan’s bowlers, however, struggled to contain the South African batters, with their reliance on slower deliveries proving ineffective.

Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi bore the brunt of Hendricks’ and van der Dussen’s onslaught, highlighting the need for a more versatile bowling strategy in future games.

Looking Ahead

With an unassailable 2-0 lead, South Africa will enter the final match of the series in Johannesburg with confidence. Pakistan, on the other hand, will aim to avoid a series whitewash and address their bowling deficiencies.

The Proteas’ victory not only ended a two-year series drought but also showcased their ability to chase down big totals under pressure.

For Pakistan, the series has been a mix of individual brilliance and team shortcomings, leaving them with plenty to ponder ahead of the final game.