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DURBAN, South Africa — South African allrounder George Linde felt a sense of responsibility on Tuesday after missing the team bus to Kingsmead for their Twenty20 match against Pakistan, requiring a police escort to reach the venue.
“I found it a bit embarrassing,” Linde admitted. “I really felt the need to perform for the team today, and I’m pleased that I did.”
He certainly delivered a standout performance, achieving personal bests in T20 cricket with both bat and ball, scoring 48 runs from just 24 balls and taking 4 wickets for 21 runs, which helped the Proteas secure a nail-biting 11-run victory.
Reflecting on his first T20 appearance since 2021, Linde described it as “a dream comeback.” South Africa set a target of 183 runs for 9, while Pakistan fought hard but ultimately ended their innings at 172 for 8.
Pakistan seemed to be playing a cautious game, saving wickets for a dramatic finish. Opener Mohammad Rizwan’s innings was steady yet slow, putting pressure on his teammates to take risks.
Saim Ayub contributed a quick 31 runs off just 15 deliveries, while Tayyab Tahir added 18 runs off 18. With five overs to go and Rizwan still at the crease, he began to increase his aggression. In the 17th over, he hit several sixes off Kwena Maphaka, giving his team hope.
However, in a surprising turn, Linde, bowling left-arm spin, took out three Pakistani batsmen in quick succession during the 18th over. He nearly completed a hat trick, but a successful review by Haris Rauf showed the bowled ball missing the leg stump.
Rizwan managed to hit three boundaries in the penultimate over, racing from 36 runs off 44 balls to a total of 74 runs off 61 balls, but Pakistan needed 19 runs in the last over to clinch victory. Unfortunately for the visitors, he was dismissed early in the final over, misplaying a pull shot and catching the attention of backward point. His dismissal marked a turning point, deflating Pakistan’s hopes.
South Africa began their innings by choosing to bat first, but they found themselves struggling at 104 for 5 by the 12th over. David Miller emerged as a savior for the Proteas, coming to bat after their second loss in just nine balls. Miller played a classic innings, scoring 82 runs off 40 balls with an impressive eight sixes and four boundaries.
One remarkable moment saw him hit a six off Sufiyan Muqeem while on one knee, sending the ball over midwicket and even beyond the stadium roof. He also belted three consecutive sixes off leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, completing his half-century off just 28 balls.
Linde capped off the South African innings with three sixes in the final over, exiting the match on the last ball but significantly surpassing his prior best score of 29. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs.
The second match of the three-match T20 series is scheduled for Thursday at Centurion.
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