Babar's half century leads Pakistan to series win

Babar Azam Leads Pakistan to Series Victory

Babar Azam made a strong comeback in T20 cricket, scoring his 37th half-century to guide Pakistan to a four-wicket win over South Africa, clinching the series.

Match Summary

Batting second in Lahore on Saturday, Pakistan chased down South Africa's total of 139 for 9, reaching 140 for 6 in 19 overs. Babar scored 68 runs off 46 balls, anchoring the innings despite early setbacks.

South Africa, after winning the toss and batting first, struggled against Pakistan's bowling, losing wickets frequently.

Series Context

Player Performances

Left-handed opener Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck, marking his fifth in ten T20 innings.

Babar, overlooked by selectors for nearly a year, returned for this series as Pakistan prepared for the next T20 World Cup. After a duck in the first match, he set a new record surpassing Rohit Sharma for most T20 runs by scoring 11 not out in the second game.

Against left-arm spinner George Linde, Babar began cautiously but gained confidence against the pace attack, benefiting from difficulty bowlers had to maintain optimal lengths due to heavy dew.

He importantly shared a 76-run partnership with captain Salman Ali Agha, who contributed 33 runs, helping to stabilize the innings while South Africa struggled to break the stand.

"Babar Azam has made a triumphant return to T20 cricket scoring his 37th half century to lead Pakistan to a series-clinching four-wicket victory against South Africa."

Summary: Babar Azam's exemplary innings and leadership led Pakistan to a crucial series win, proving vital in their preparation ahead of the next T20 World Cup.

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The Northern Daily Leader The Northern Daily Leader — 2025-11-03

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