Under-strength South Africa proved too strong for Pakistan in a convincing 55-run win in the first Twenty20 international in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Without seven frontline players, either rested or injured, the Proteas reached 194-9 with opener Reeza Hendricks hitting a 40-ball 60.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pacer Corbin Bosch (4-14) and spinner George Linde (3-31) then led a disciplined bowling as Pakistan never looked like hunting down the target, folding for 139 in 18.1 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The win gives tourists a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the remaining matches on Friday and Saturday, both in Lahore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opener Saim Ayub hit four sixes and a four in his 28-ball 37. Down the order Mohammad Nawaz knocked 20-ball 36 with two sixes and four boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A packed 16,000 crowd at Rawalpindi stadium were left disappointed when their favourite Babar Azam failed to cap a T20I comeback after ten months, falling for a second-ball duck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
South African captain Donovan Ferreira praised a team effort.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am very proud of the collective effort," said Ferreira. "We had a good powerplay batting effort and Linde finished it well."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha rued poor batting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We didn't start well with the ball but we pulled things back," said Agha. "With the batting, we are losing wickets quickly and we need to have a quick turnaround."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, South Africa had a blazing start of 74 runs in the power-play and knocked 100 in just nine overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks put on 44 in just 3.5 overs with Quinton de Kock (23) after the tourists were put in to bat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks's knock was studded with a six and five fours while De Kock smashed five fours in his 13-ball knock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks continued to build up the innings, adding 49 for the second wicket with debutant Tony de Zorzi who scored a brisk 16-ball 33 with a six and five fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who took 3-26, stopped the flow of runs by dismissing De Zorzi, Dewald Brevis (nine) and Ferreira (ten).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hendricks finally fell in the 18th over after scoring his 18th T20I half century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Linde gave the final touches to the innings with a rapid 22-ball 36 with a six and four fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan players wore pink kits to spread breast-cancer awareness while South Africans wore pink ribbons.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2025\/10\/South-Africa-vs-Pakistan-1st-T20I-2025.jpeg", "alt_img": "South Africa vs Pakistan 1st T20I 2025", "alt_title": "South Africa beat Pakistan in 1st t20I", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Reeza Hendricks, Bosch Shine as South Africa Beat Pakistan by 55 Runs On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Reeza Hendricks\u2019 60, Bosch\u2019s 4\/14 Power South Africa to Big Win Over Pakistan in first T20I on Tuesday.", "seo_keywords": "South Africa Tour Pakistan 2025, South Africa Vs Pakistan, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Pakistan Cricket, South Africa Cricket", "tag": null, "tagging": "South Africa Tour Pakistan 2025,South Africa Vs Pakistan,Reeza Hendricks,Corbin Bosch,Pakistan Cricket,South Africa Cricket,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "reeza-hendricks-bosch-shine-as-south-africa-beat-pakistan-by-55-runs", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1001", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2025-10-29 08:23:38", "updated": "2025-10-29 08:23:38", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "South Africa Tour Pakistan 2025, South Africa Vs Pakistan, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Pakistan Cricket, South Africa Cricket", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "19", "jio_date": "2025-10-29 08:23:38", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/reeza-hendricks-bosch-shine-as-south-africa-beat-pakistan-by-55-runs-180700" }