South Africa defeated Pakistan by 11 runs in the first T20I played at Durban when the team was led ably by George Linde through an all-round display. The hosts scored 183/9 in its allotted 20 overs, whereas Pakistan could score only 172/8 in a desperate chase, which unfortunately failed to be enough owing to Mohammad Rizwan’s brilliant effort.
South Africa chose to bat first. The team got off to a rather shaky start. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed dismantled the top order, knocking over Rassie van der Dussen (0), Matthew Breetzke (8), and Reeza Hendricks (8) in the first four overs. At 28/3, the home side seemed to be in trouble.
David Miller played an exceptional knock, smashing 82 off just 40 balls, including four boundaries and eight sixes. His power-hitting anchored the innings and kept the scoreboard ticking. George Linde provided crucial support, hammering 48 off 24 balls with three fours and four sixes, propelling the total to a competitive 183/9.
Abrar Ahmed (3/37) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/22) were the standout bowlers for Pakistan. Abbas Afridi chipped in with 2/30, while Sufiyan Muqeem managed 1/53 but was expensive.
Pakistan bowlers had a good start against South Africa in first T20I but…
Pakistan’s bowlers got off to a promising start, with Shaheen Shah Afridi continuing his fiery opening spell. He dismissed van der Dussen and then came back to take two more as Abrar Ahmed spun three wickets, including the crucial blow of Miller. However, the bowlers were unable to restrict South Africa’s fireworks from Miller and Linde in the middle order.
Chasing 184, Pakistan suffered an early jolt as captain Babar Azam got out for a duck, edging Kwena Maphaka to the keeper. Saim Ayub countered that attack with a fire-cracker of 31 off just 15 balls with seven boundaries.
Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a determined 74 off 62 balls, keeping Pakistan in the hunt. Tayyab Tahir (18) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (9) provided some support, but wickets fell at regular intervals. George Linde was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming 4/21 and dismantling the middle and lower order.
With 23 extras accounting for a significant portion of the runs, Pakistan remained in the hunt but ultimately lost out when Rizwan’s wicket in the 19th over sealed the deal.
George Linde was the best with an extraordinary spell of 4/21. He struck vital knocks down, dismissing key men such as Rizwan to ensure that Pakistan couldn’t finish with a flourish. Kwena Maphaka (2/39) took two vital wickets early; the wickets of Babar Azam and got another two, and those efforts had Pakistan under stress right from the beginning.
The tour took a 1-0 lead for South Africa by virtue of the thrilling, come-from-behind match performance and great bowling by George Linde. Pakistan would like to regroup in double time to level the three-match series.
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