George Linde made a spectacular return to the South African side after a three-year absence, delivering a match-winning all-round performance in the first T20I against Pakistan at Kingsmead Stadium, Durban. South Africa secured a thrilling 11-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Batting first, South Africa posted a total of 183 for 9, thanks to David Miller’s commanding 82 runs and Linde’s quickfire 48 off just 24 balls. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi (3-22) and Abrar Ahmed (3-37), kept the pressure on but couldn’t prevent the Proteas from reaching a competitive total.
In reply, Pakistan’s innings was anchored by Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 74 off 62 balls. However, a slow start to his innings — with just 36 runs off his first 44 balls — left too much for the team to do in the latter stages. Despite a spirited 31 from Saim Ayub and late fireworks from the captain, Pakistan fell short, managing 172 for 8.
George Linde was the standout bowler, claiming 4-21 in his four overs. His performance included a near-hat-trick in the penultimate over, denied only by a successful review. His contributions with both bat and ball earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on the match, Linde said,
“It feels incredible to be back and contribute to the team’s success in such a big way. Nights like this make it all worth it.”
The series now moves to Pretoria for the second match on December 13, followed by the final T20I in Johannesburg on December 15. Both teams will be eager to make their mark in what promises to be an exciting series.
