We will never know who would have won this first T20 at the Wanderers, as rain stopped play with Pakistan at 60 for 2 after only 9.2 overs. The South African cricket team did manage a win through the Duckworth/Lewis system, but Pakistan was placed well at the time the rain spoiled everything. Pakistan was truly unlucky in the end. They were chasing a score of only 154 to win, after the Proteas managed a final total of 153 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock started like a house on fire after Pakistan won the toss and sent the South Africans in to bat on a predictably quick Wanderers pitch and outfield especially. The two openers were cruising at around 12 - 13 runs per over at the end of the 6th over, which was also the end of the fielding restrictions. The pair combined perfectly for an opening stand of 72 runs, scoring at more than 9 per over.
From this position, it seemed as if the Proteas were going to effortlessly get to around 170 to 190, but they rather lost their way. Wickets kept on falling - something we see often in cricket games - and they had to settle for a somewhat mediocre final score.
The second T20 will take place at Newlands this coming Friday and the weather predictions look fine, so we should see a full game of T20 cricket. Can Pakistan square the mini-series in South Africa - what do you think?
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