PAK vs SA 2nd T20I: Salman Mirza, Saim Ayub Shine As Pakistan Bounce Back In Series With 9-wicket Win

Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd T20I Result: Pakistan defeated South Africa by 9 wickets in the second T20I match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. They have bounced back in the three-match series to make it 1-1. They outclassed the visitors in all departments, as the second match also ended up being a one-sided contest.

Pakistan faced no problems as they produced a dominating effort to chase down the 111-run target in 13.1 overs. They were off to a remarkable start as Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub provided the hosts a magnificent start. They stitched a 54-run opening stand. The Proteas got the first breakthrough in the seventh over when Corbin Bosch trapped Farhan in front, dismissing the right-handed batter for 28 runs.

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That was the last success South Africa witnessed in the game as Saim Ayub then smashed the bowlers all around the park and reached his fifty. The left-handed batter has been at the centre of massive criticism due to his poor batting form lately. He finally found the touch and played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 71 runs in just 38 balls on the back of six fours and five sixes. He added 58 runs with the former skipper Babar Azam for the second wicket and took his team over the line.

While most of the runs were scored by Ayub in that partnership, Babar remained unbeaten on 11 runs, which he scored in 18 balls.

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Earlier, the hosts came up with an incredible performance with the ball after winning the toss. They bowled South Africa out for just 110 runs in 19.2 overs. Dewald Brevis was the top run-getter with a 25-run contribution in 16 balls, hitting three impressive sixes.

For Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers as he took four wickets for 23 runs in his 3.2 overs, whereas Salman Mirza found three scalps for 14 runs in 4 overs. The latter was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

"The plan was simple to bowl within the stumps and bowl according to the pitch. Very early, we found that the ball is holding and turning, so we used our variations. When you come back after a long break and give a match-winning performance, then it is very satisfying. The slower one that bowled Matthew is the one I enjoyed the most," said Salman Mirza in the post-match presentation.