Eman 
Lahore Nightmare: South Africa’s Inexperience Baffles Conrad as Pakistan Clinches T20I Series 2-1
ZeeaK 
South Africa finished their T20I series against Pakistan with a disappointing loss, falling by four wickets in the Lahore decider. The defeat handed Pakistan a 2-1 series victory, erasing the historical momentum the Proteas earned in Rawalpindi just days earlier.
Assistant coach Shukri Conrad summed up the frustration, noting the proximity of the two venues (311 km) belied the stark difference in performance: “Only 311 kilometers separates Pindi from Lahore, but it seems the South Africans got lost along the way.”
The Inexperience Burden
Conrad pointed directly to the severe experience imbalance as the major factor in their consistent batting failures at the Gaddafi Stadium.
While South Africa’s seven main batters hold 237 T20I caps, a staggering 77% of that experience belongs solely to veterans Reeza Hendricks (36) and Quinton de Kock (30 runs in the entire series), who is still visibly rusty after his temporary retirement. In contrast, Babar Azam alone accounted for almost half of Pakistan’s collective batting experience, and he used every bit of it when it mattered most.
Innings 1: Bits and Bobs Don’t Add Up
The final T20I followed the pattern of the second match: South Africa failed to post a competitive total, finishing at 139/9 (an improvement from 110/10 previously).
- Hendricks found his rhythm, top-scoring with 34 off 36 balls, improving on his previous duck.
- Youngsters Dewald Brevis (21) and captain Donovan Ferreira (29) showed flashes of brilliance, particularly Ferreira’s aggressive approach.
- Corbin Bosch was the standout performer for the tourists across the series, finishing as the leading wicket-taker for both sides and scoring an unbeaten 30 in the final match.
Conrad praised these moments as “bright bits and bobs,” but admitted they failed to translate into the large totals needed to challenge Pakistan.
Innings 2: Babar Azam Makes it Count
Pakistan’s successful chase was anchored by a decisive return to form for Babar Azam. After struggling with scores of nought and 11 in the previous fixtures, Babar stepped up in the decider with a crucial 68 runs off 47 deliveries, forging a series-winning partnership with Salman Agha.
Babar’s experience provided the composure needed to navigate the moderate chase, ensuring Pakistan sealed the four-wicket victory and clinched the T20I series 2-1.
Looking ahead, South Africa now travels to Faisalabad for the ODI series, hoping the new venue will bring the rousing recovery they staged in the Test series after their initial loss in Lahore.
For all the highlights of the series, series decider analysis, and a preview of the upcoming ODI series, visit the ultimate cricket destination: www.crickethighlights.online
Image credits : cricbuzz
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