Faheem Ashraf showcased his bowling prowess in the second T20I between Pakistan and South Africa, taking pivotal wickets that left the Proteas struggling. Ashraf dismissed George Linde, the player of the match from their previous encounter, for just 9 runs off 13 balls. He also claimed the wicket of South African captain Donovan Ferreira, who had started strong with two boundaries but ended up only contributing 15 runs off 15 balls.
South Africa stumbled in their innings, finishing their first 10 overs at a disappointing 66-6. Dewald Brevis managed to hit a no-look six during his short stay at the crease, scoring 25 runs from 16 balls before falling to Ashraf. His efforts briefly lifted the Proteas to a total of 31 runs during the powerplay.
Meanwhile, the fielding challenges for Pakistan were evident, as Salman Mirza struggled initially; he had dropped a catch and misfielded, allowing Breetzke to score, before finally taking the wicket of Breetzke after he made a modest contribution. Mirza also claimed the wicket of Tony de Zorzi, dismissing him for just 7 runs.
In a notable moment, Naseem Shah continued to apply pressure, taking the wicket of South Africa’s star player, Quinton de Kock, who was only able to score 7 runs. The match saw the Green Shirts, led by Salman Ali Agha, opting to field first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, aiming for a comeback after suffering a 55-run defeat in the series opener.
As the cricketing rivalry unfolds, fans remain hopeful that Pakistan will turn their fortunes around in this match after an underwhelming start to the series.