South Africa edged past Pakistan by 11 runs in an exhilarating opening T20I of the Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024-25 at Kingsmead, Durban. An all-round performance by George Linde, who claimed four wickets and scored a quick-fire 48, earned him the Player of the Match title.
South Africa’s power-packed batting performance
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, South Africa had a shaky start, losing Rassie van der Dussen for a golden duck in the first over. Reeza Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke added minimal contributions, leaving the hosts at 29/3.
David Miller anchored the innings with a scintillating knock of 82 off 40 balls, smashing 4 fours and 8 towering sixes. His partnership with George Linde, who contributed 48 runs off just 24 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes, was the turning point. The duo combined for a 77-run stand that took the team to a competitive total of 183/9.
Pakistan’s bowlers had mixed results. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/22, while Abrar Ahmed also bagged three wickets but was expensive, conceding 37 runs in his four overs. Abbas Afridi chipped in with two crucial wickets, while Haris Rauf and Sufiyan Muqeem struggled to keep the runs in check.
Pakistan falls short in a spirited chase
Chasing 184, Pakistan’s innings began on a disastrous note as skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for a four-ball duck. Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a resilient 74 off 62 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes, but lacked consistent support from the other end.
Saim Ayub provided an early spark with a blazing 31 off just 15 balls, lacing his knock with 7 boundaries. However, wickets fell at regular intervals, with none of the middle-order batsmen managing to convert their starts. Tayyab Tahir’s 18 off 18 and Shaheen Afridi’s late cameo of 9 off 6 offered fleeting hope, but the target remained out of reach.
George Linde was instrumental with the ball, dismantling Pakistan’s middle order with figures of 4/21 in his four overs. Kwena Maphaka and Ottniel Baartman provided crucial breakthroughs, while Andile Simelane chipped in with a wicket despite being expensive.
Key turning points
David Miller and George Linde’s partnership: South Africa’s innings revival, driven by their explosive 77-run stand, provided the momentum for a competitive total.
George Linde’s bowling brilliance: Linde’s exceptional spell not only slowed Pakistan’s scoring but also dismantled their middle order.
Pakistan’s top-order collapse: The early dismissals of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub’s inability to bat longer proved detrimental to Pakistan’s chase.
With South Africa taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Pakistan will aim to bounce back in the second T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on Friday, December 13. Both teams will look to address their shortcomings as the series progresses.
What a comeback and what a player he is!!! George Linde absolutely deserves this moment tonight 🔥🔥🔥🔥
“I’m the best all rounder in the country” he once said and boy has he shown it tonight!!! 👏 👏 👏 #SAvPAK #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/v9pF6XCLIB
— Lawrence Bailey ⚪ 🇿🇦 (@LawrenceBailey0) December 10, 2024
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