Burger’s Impact Shakes Pakistan's Batting
Nandre Burger dismantled Pakistan’s top order with three swift wickets early in the second one-day international against South Africa at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Choosing to bat first, Pakistan struggled on a slow, awkward pitch.
Bowling Performance
Left-arm fast bowler Burger took 4 wickets for 46 runs, striking quickly with the third ball of the match. Fakhar Zaman was caught by keeper Quinton de Kock off a pull shot. Burger then took two more wickets in his third over: Babar Azam (11) edged to Donovan Ferreira at slip, and Mohammad Rizwan (4) was bowled attempting to leave the ball.
Middle-Order Recovery
Opener Saim Ayub and Salman Agha steadied the innings with a cautious 92-run partnership over 20 overs to rebuild after the early collapse. Ayub scored 53 runs.
Salman reached his half-century from 82 balls with just three boundaries.
His innings ended at 69 from 106 balls after Corbin Bosch bowled a precise yorker, following an extraordinary reflex catch Bosch took off Salman’s full-blooded drive.
Match Conditions and Outlook
Although the total of 269-9 appears modest, Pakistan remains competitive at the midway point, with the pitch expected to pose even greater challenges in the second innings.
Key Highlights
- Pitch difficulty slowed scoring and favored bowlers.
- Burger’s early strike dismantled Pakistan’s top order.
- Salman Agha and Saim Ayub’s partnership rescued the innings.
- Corbin Bosch's yorker and catch proved decisive against Salman.
Summary: Burger’s early wickets disrupted Pakistan’s batting, but a steady middle-order partnership kept the match competitive on a challenging pitch.