Reeza Hendricks’ maiden T20I century helped South Africa complete a chase of the ages in a seven-wicket win over Pakistan at a packed SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday night.
Having endured a series of low scores – failing to pass the 50-run mark in his last five T20I innings – the opening batter was on song right from the start as the Proteas hunted down a mammoth 207 target to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
The third and final T20I will take place at the Wanderers tonight (6pm start).
Hendricks drove, cut, pulled and hooked his way to a sparkling century under pressure as the right-handed batter smashed 10 sixes and seven fours on his way to a career-best 117 off 63 deliveries.
At the other end, Rassie van der Dussen assumed the accumulator role, taking his time to get going, as he usually does, at the start of innings.
However, when the visitors strayed in line and length, the 35-year-old cashed in during a 157-run partnership for the third wicket, before Hendricks was dismissed with the hosts 22 runs away from the target.
Van der Dussen (66 not out) and Heinrich Klaasen (eight not out) guided South Africa to a seven-wicket victory, and most importantly to the team’s first series triumph under limited-overs coach Rob Walter.
Left-arm seamer Jahandad Khan finished as the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with figures of 2/40.
Earlier, the Proteas bowling attack was put under the sword by 22-year-old opener Saim Ayub.
The left-handed batter enjoyed the flat pitch at SuperSport Park and certainly took full advantage of batting on the highveld as he blitzed his way to an unbeaten 98 off 57 deliveries (11x4, 5x6).
Strong on the leg-side, Ayub smashed five massive sixes over cow corner and square-leg, ramped over the wicket-keeper and short fine-leg fielder, and played a series of crisp drives on the offside as he showcased his abilities to access boundaries all around the field.
His job was made even easier by a poor showing from the South African bowling attack. The hosts gave away 16 extras, 15 of those being wides, and one no-ball from the young Kwena Maphaka.
Apart from debutant Dayyaan Galiem (2/21) and spinner George Linde (1/28), every other bowler was taken to the cleaners as Maphaka (0/41 in three overs), Nqaba Peter (0/28 in two overs), Donovan Ferreira (0/37 in three overs) and Ottneil Baartman (2/51 in four overs) struggled.
What was key to the visitors’ good batting display were two crucial partnerships as Ayub and former captain Babar Azam (31) combined for 87 for the second wicket, before Irfan Khan joined Ayub for a 73-run fifth-wicket partnership.
The visiting batters smashed 19 fours and nine sixes, and ended on a highly competitive 206/5.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 206/5 off 20 overs (Saim Ayub 98*; Dayyaan Galiem 2/21)
South Africa 210/3 off 19.3 overs (Reeza Hendricks 117, Rassie van der Dussen 66*; Jahandad Khan 2/40)