SA vs PAK: South Africa edged Pakistan by 11 runs in a thrilling first T20I at Kingsmead, Durban, powered by a stunning all-round performance from George Linde and a brutal knock by David Miller. The victory gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and left Pakistan grappling with missed opportunities.
After electing to bat, South Africa stumbled early, with Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed dismantling the top order. Reduced to 29/3 in the powerplay, the Proteas found themselves under pressure. But David Miller turned the tide with an explosive 82 off 40 balls.
Displaying his trademark power-hitting, Miller unleashed a flurry of sixes, dispatching Pakistan’s bowlers with disdain. His innings featured eight towering sixes and four boundaries, with a strike rate of 205.00, setting the tone for South Africa’s recovery.
Linde provided invaluable support, smashing 42 runs off just 24 deliveries in a quick-fire cameo that further propelled the hosts. He dominated the latter overs, particularly targeting young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, who bore the brunt of Linde’s aggression. South Africa eventually posted a competitive 183/9.
Pakistan’s chase began on a shaky note, with captain Babar Azam falling for a duck in the first over. However, Saim Ayub injected life into the innings with a brisk 31 off 15 balls before perishing. Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a fighting 74 off 46 balls, mixing calculated aggression with strike rotation to keep Pakistan in contention.
The game tilted in Pakistan’s favour during the 17th over, as Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi plundered 24 runs, reducing the equation to 36 off 18 balls. However, Linde struck back decisively, removing Shaheen and Irfan Khan on consecutive deliveries, shifting momentum back to South Africa.
Despite Rizwan’s heroics in the penultimate over, where he found the boundary thrice, the final over proved a step too far. Young pacer Kwena Maphaka held his nerve, dismissing Rizwan and sealing a hard-fought win for the Proteas.
South Africa’s victory was built on their resilience, with Miller’s onslaught and Linde’s all-round brilliance standing out. For Pakistan, missed chances with the ball and a lack of partnerships in the middle overs proved costly. The two sides will now turn their attention to the second T20I, with Pakistan eager to bounce back and South Africa aiming to seal the series.
