LAHORE – Under the Gaddafi Stadium lights, Salman Mirza stole the show. The left-arm quick ripped through South Africa’s top order with cold accuracy, setting up Pakistan’s thumping nine-wicket win in the second T20I.
Chasing only 111, the hosts strolled home with 41 balls to spare, squaring the series 1-1 and wiping away the sting of their heavy defeat in Rawalpindi. Mirza’s figures, 3 for 14 from four tidy overs, framed the night and confirmed why the 31-year-old is now central to Pakistan’s pace plans.
The noise started at the toss and never relented. Captain Salman Agha chose to bowl on a surface offering a touch of seam and grip, backing his attack to make early inroads. With Shaheen Afridi rested, Mirza led the charge and delivered a clinic in control and change-ups. He later said the plan was to attack the stumps, mix the pace, and let the pitch help. The approach worked from ball one.
Salman Mirza Rips Open the Top Order
South Africa folded for 110 in 19.2 overs, their lowest T20I total against Pakistan. Salman Mirza set the tone in his first over, uprooting Reeza Hendricks for a golden duck with a ball that jagged back and clipped the off stump. He followed up with two more in the power play, removing Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke, and left the visitors in disarray at 23 for 4. His powerplay return, 3 for 6, was his best in internationalT20Ss.
The cutters and knuckle balls that he honed in Lahore street cricket did the damage. Breetzke nicked behind trying to ride the pace change, and de Zorzi lost his stumps after a wild swing. Dewald Brevis countered for a brisk 25 off 16 with three sixes, but support never arrived as Pakistan kept the screws tight.
Faheem Ashraf backed up the early burst with a decisive spell, taking a career-best 4 for 23 and cleaning up the tail, including the key wicket of Donovan Ferreira. Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed added one each. Ferreira admitted his side was beaten across the board, pointing to the power play as the turning point. Mirza’s economy of 3.50 summed up his command of length and tempo.
This was more than tidy bowling. It felt like a milestone for a player who has grafted since his PSL breakthrough with Lahore Qalandars in 2021. Spotted at open trials and refined at the Qalandars High-Performance Center, Mirza brings swing both ways with an array of slower balls that keep batters guessing. Against a lineup featuring Quinton de Kock and Hendricks, he looked a class apart.
Chase in Cruise Control: Saim Ayub Finishes in Style
Pakistan’s reply was brisk and assured. Saim Ayub, under scrutiny after a lean patch, struck an unbeaten 71 from 38 balls, with six fours and five sixes. He reached fifty in 28 balls and never let the bowlers settle. Sahibzada Farhan finished 28 not out in a 105-run unbroken stand for the second wicket. Babar Azam fell early for 8, but the target was too small to create any doubt, and the chase ended inside 13 overs.
Ayub mixed timing with clean power. He pulled Lungi Ngidi over deep square and lifted George Linde over cover with ease. He dedicated the knock to the home crowd, who roared every boundary. Agha’s field placements and bowling changes earlier had set the rhythm, while sharp catching and boundary saves kept South Africa under pressure throughout.
Even with the batting fireworks, Mirza’s new-ball spell remained the night’s centrepiece. Without that early burst, South Africa could have reached 150 and forced a scrap. Instead, Pakistan boosted their net run rate and belief heading into the decider on 3 November in Karachi. Agha praised Mirza’s work ethic and appetite to learn, calling him the team’s X-factor.
From Lahore Streets to Fan Favourite: Why Salman Mirza Matters
Salman Mirza’s rise speaks to grit and patience. Born on 1 January 1994 in Lahore, he moved from tape-ball sessions to Qalandars’ open trials in 2017, then pushed through PDP events to the PSL. This year ae he also collected two Player of the Match awards in PSL 10, a nod to his consistency under pressure.
He has won support far beyond Pakistan. Fans in London, Dubai, and Toronto track his spells, and the hashtag #MirzaMagic surged after this win, drawing hundreds of thousands of mentions within hours. Admirers praise his modesty and drive. He often spends the off-season guiding youngsters at local academies, and he credits his family and simple start for keeping him grounded.
He fits the identity of Pakistan pace, raw and fearless yet smart. After a steady T20I debut series against Bangladesh earlier in the year, where he took seven wickets in three games, this performance has lifted his standing. Some critics pointed out his 21 T20I wickets at 7.80 economy before this match, but nights like Lahore change opinions. There is no drama, just hard work, swing, and a clear plan.
This win felt like more than a response. It looked like a template for Pakistan’s white-ball cricket, with Mirza’s bite up front, Naseem’s zip, and Agha’s steady hand. South Africa must regroup quickly ahead of Karachi after their lowest T20I score since 2019.
Salman Mirza collected Player of the Match and spoke of the joy of returning to form, eyes already on the next contest. Pakistan’s supporters left chanting his name. One thing is certain. Salman Mirza is not only taking wickets, he is lifting spirits, one searing yorker at a time.
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