Saim Ayub’s 98* Leads Pakistan in T20I Loss
Saim played a blistering knock of 98* off 57 balls, peppered with five sixes and 11 fours to set up Pakistan’s total of 206-5 in the second T20I of three-match series against South Africa.
He missed out on his century as he did not get to play any ball in the final over. Irfan Khan (30) got out on the second ball while new batter Abbas Afridi played the remaining four balls, hitting 11 runs with one six and one four.
During the post-match press conference, Saim Ayub was asked about missing out on the chance to get his maiden century in the format.
Babar Azam breaks Chris Gayle’s all-time T20 record
However, he shared that he prefers team goals over personal milestones and expressed hope that he will get more such opportunities in the future.
“Opportunities will come; this isn’t the last chance or last day for me to score a hundred. What’s most important is contributing to the team,” Saim stated.
“If the team isn’t winning, then a hundred doesn’t matter. But, if the team wins, even a score of 90 or 80 is enough.”
Saim revealed that the plan was to for for boundaries and get as many runs on the board as possible, which resulted in him not getting strike in the final over.
“At that moment, we were thinking of scoring the maximum number of runs for the team. If a hundred is written in my fate, it will happen eventually,” he added.
Watch Pakistan vs South Africa Live on ARY ZAP
It’s pertinent to mention that South Africa has achieved an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, and the dead rubber third T20I will be played in Johannesburg today.
After wrapping up the T20I series, Pakistan and South Africa will play a three-match ODI series.
The opening ODI will take place on December 17 in Paarl, while the second and third ODIs will be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.
Pakistan and South Africa will then engage in a two-match Test series, which will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.
