Magnificent Saim marooned on 98 not out

Saim Ayub struck a magnificent unbeaten 98 to help take Pakistan to a challenging 206 for five wickets in the second T20I at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.

The 22-year-old left-hander looked good in Durban, striking seven fours in his 31 in 15 balls, and he more than confirmed that good impression in Centurion.

The left-hander marries grace with power and his innings was as much as thing of beauty as it was an exhibition of power-hitting.

On the fast-scoring SuperSport Park ground he was in his element, striking 11 fours and five sixes in his innings.

It was such a pity that he didn’t reach his first T20I hundred, but he couldn’t get the strike in the last over and he was left, magnificently marooned, at the non-striker’s end as Pakistan went past 200.

Saim featured in two important partnerships, 87 off 45 balls for the second wicket with Babar Azam (31 off 20 balls) and an even quicker one of 73 in 32 balls for the fifth wicket with Irfan Khan (30 off 16 balls).

If he had received more help from the middle-order, the Pakistan total could have been even bigger after the visitors had won the toss and opted to take first strike.

Saim’s innings featured classical drives, wristy clips off his toes, lovely square-cuts and full-blooded belts to midwicket and cow corner.

He was fortunate to have been dropped twice by debutant Dayyaan Galiem, on three at point and on 97 at long-on but otherwise his shot selection was well nigh perfect. 

Babar showed something of his old form in his partnership with Saim, while Irfan Khan played some powerful strokes to the on-side in his innings.

For South Africa, Galiem bowled well to pick up 2-21 in his four overs to help offset his dropped catches,  while George Linde, the hero in Durban, again had a good outing, conceding 28 in his four overs and claiming the big wicket of Babar, caught a long-on.

South Africa’s outfielding was generally good with Rassie van der Dussen picking up a fine diving catch on the midwicket boundary to dismiss Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan.

Fifteen wides, however, was not a good effort from the bowlers.