In the first T20I between South Africa and Pakistan at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead in Durban on Tuesday, the Proteas won by 11 runs, thanks to a standout performance by George Linde.
Linde played a crucial role with both bat and ball, scoring 48 runs off 24 balls and claiming 4 wickets for 21 runs, his best-ever T20I figures. South Africa posted a competitive total of 182/9, driven by a blistering 82 off 40 balls from David Miller, who hit 4 fours and 8 sixes. In response, Pakistan was restricted to 172/8 despite a promising start. The tourists lost their star batter Babar Azam early, dismissed for a duck in the third over by Andile Simelane off Kwena Maphaka.
Saim Ayub played a quick-fire cameo, striking seven fours in a 15-ball 31. By the end of the powerplay, Pakistan was 55/1, surpassing South Africa’s 43/3. However, after Ayub’s dismissal, caught by Matthew Breetzke at deep cover, the momentum shifted. Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, briefly revived their chase, hitting 2 sixes and a four off a chaotic 17th over from Maphaka, which cost 24 runs, the most expensive of the match.
Despite this surge, Pakistan required 36 runs from the final three overs with Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi at the crease. Linde then swung the match decisively in South Africa’s favour. He first had Afridi stumped, then dismissed Irfan Khan and Abbas Afridi in the same over. Linde came close to a hat-trick but saw an LBW decision overturned on review. Maphaka also played a key role, dismissing Rizwan for 74 off 62 balls in the final over, leaving Pakistan with no chance of victory. Rizwan’s knock included five fours and three sixes, but it wasn’t enough.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings got off to a rough start. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Rassie van der Dussen for a duck in the first over. Matthew Breetzke followed soon after, dismissed cheaply by leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Miller, in only the second over, provided the backbone for South Africa’s recovery, finding form with elegant drives and powerful pulls. He was the star with three consecutive sixes off Abrar Ahmed, and though he was dismissed for 82 in the 14th over, his knock was pivotal.
Reeza Hendricks was also dismissed cheaply, and Heinrich Klaasen fell to a catch in the outfield. By the ninth over, South Africa was struggling at 71/4. However, Miller’s continued brilliance, along with a valuable partnership of 42 in 25 balls between Linde and Maphaka, helped lift the total. Linde’s explosive finishing, including three sixes off Sufiyan Muqeen in the final over, helped South Africa reach 182/9.
The best bowling performance for Pakistan came from Shaheen Afridi, who took 3/22, while Abrar Ahmed claimed 3/37 and Abbas Afridi took 2/30. Muqeen’s four overs, though, were expensive, conceding 53 runs and six sixes. In summary, South Africa’s total of 182/9 proved to be just enough, with Linde’s all-round brilliance ensuring the home team’s victory by 11 runs despite a spirited fight from Rizwan and Ayub.
SOUTH AFRICA Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (capt, w/k), Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottniel Baartman
PAKISTAN: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, w/k), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
