Pakistan vs South Africa Thriller: Full Match Highlights, Scorecard & Key Moments From Today’s World Cup Clash

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is set for a primetime showdown tonight as Pakistan lock horns with South Africa in the opening T20I of the much-anticipated three-match series. First ball is scheduled for 20:00 local time (15:00 GMT), and every delivery carries weight for two sides eager to fine-tune plans ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. High-stakes opener Pakistan return to home soil after a mixed tour of Australia, but skipper Babar Azam’s comeback from a finger injury has instantly lifted local expectations. South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, arrive with a refreshed white-ball core that impressed during the recent Caribbean Premier League. With Rawalpindi historically producing high-scoring nights, both camps view the series as a litmus test for death-over execution and power-play aggression. Probable XIs Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi Key match-ups to watch • Shaheen Afridi vs Quinton de Kock – the left-arm spearhead has dismissed de Kock four times in six T20 meetings, conceding just 6.8 runs per over. • Shadab Khan vs Heinrich Klaasen – Rawalpindi’s bounce aids leg-spinners, and Klaasen’s T20 strike rate against leg-spin (163) promises fireworks. • Kagiso Rabada at the death – Pakistan scored at 11.9 RPO in overs 17-20 during their last home series; Rabada’s yorker accuracy will be crucial. Head-to-head snapshot Pakistan edge the bilateral T20I rivalry 9-8, but South Africa have won four of the last six clashes. The last meeting in Lahore (2024) saw Pakistan defend 180 by just three runs after Haris Rauf’s final-over heroics. Pitch & weather Rawalpindi’s true surface historically offers early seam before flattening into a belter; six of the last eight night T20Is here produced first-innings totals above 175. Clear skies and a pleasant 24 °C evening are forecast, so dew could influence captains to chase. Streaming & broadcast information The match will be televised on PTV Sports in Pakistan, SuperSport Cricket in South Africa, and Willow TV in North America. Global fans can stream live via the Sports TV YouTube channel and the SuperSport app, while SonyLIV provides coverage in India. Talking points heading in • Babar & Rizwan reunion: After experimenting with alternate opening pairs in Australia, Pakistan revert to their record-breaking duo. • Proteas middle-order muscle: Miller, Klaasen and Stubbs collectively strike at 160+ in T20Is this year. • Wrist-spin battle: Shadab vs Shamsi could decide middle-overs momentum on a surface that rewards flight and variation. What’s next? After tonight’s curtain-raiser, the caravan moves to Lahore on 31 October for the second T20I before wrapping up in Karachi on 2 November. A strong start is vital: in the last five bilateral T20I series hosted in Pakistan, the side winning the opener has gone on to clinch the series four times. Expect a packed house, booming drums, and a digital audience in the millions as “PAK vs SA” dominates timelines and search bars worldwide.