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In the absence of senior players, George Linde justified his comeback to the T20I squad after three years with an all-round show at Kingsmead, Durban, to lead South Africa to 11-run win against Mohammad Rizwan's Pakistan. Linde smashed a 24-ball 48 and then claimed four wickets to cause a late collapse. Before Linde, it was David Miller who helped South Africa recover from a top-order failure with a 40-ball 82. In the run chase, Rizwan scored 74 but at a poor strike rate which was not enough to take Pakistan home.
Miller show after early wickets
Earlier, South Africa's stand-in skipper Heinrich Klaasen won the toss and opted to bat first. Shaheen Afridi knocked over Rassie van der Dussen for a golden duck. Matthew Breetzke hit a six before falling to Abrar Ahmed on the next ball. In his next over, Abrar knocked over Reeza Hendricks as South Africa lost three wickets for 28 runs. Miller took the aerial route often and cleared the boundaries. Klaasen couldn't stay long at the crease and lost his wicket to Abbas Afridi in the ninth over. In the 10th over, Miller whacked Abrar for three consecutive sixes. He reached his half-century from 27 balls.
Linde finishes with flourish
Abbas in his third over got the wicket of Donovan Ferreira. But it did not affect Miller who continued his rampage. Linde did not take much time to hit his first six. In the 14th over, Shaheen returned and got the prized wicket of Miller. His 40-ball 82 featured four fours and eight sixes. In the next over, Abrar got Andile Simelane stumped. The run rate dipped and Shaheen got Nqabayomzi Peter out lbw. Kwena Maphaka provided much-needed support. In the final over, Rizwan handed the ball to Sufiyan Muqeem. Linde smashed him for three sixes before losing his wicket off the final ball of the innings. His 24-ball 48 helped the hosts post 183/9 on the board.
Rizwan struggles, Ayub's cameo
Pakistan's run chase got off to a poor start. Rizwan took his time to settle whereas young Maphaka dismissed Babar Azam for a four-ball duck. Saim Ayub pushed the scoring rate with three consecutive fours off Simelane. Rizwan continued to play the anchor role with just one boundary in powerplay overs. Ayub's cameo came to an end in the sevent over. Simelane took his wicket. The attacking batter scored 31 runs from 15 deliveries. Usman Khan's catch was dropped but he was dismissed by Linde in the 10th over. At the halfway stage, Rizwan was batting on 24 from 31 balls.
Rizwan's acceleration too late
In the 15th over, Tayyab Tahir departed for a run-a-ball 18. With 73 runs needed off last five overs, Rizwan hit the first six of his knock. He reached his fifty from 50 balls. The equation came down to 36 runs from last three overs. Linde in his last over got Shaheen stumped. Then he dismissed Irfan Khan and Abbas as well. He was celebrating his wicket but Haris Rauf was saved by DRS. In the penultimate over, Rizwan hit three fours off Ottneil Baartman. Pakistan needed 19 runs in the final over. Maphaka ended Rizwan's stay at the crease. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 74 runs from 62 balls including five fours and three sixes. Pakistan posted 172/8 and lost the match by 11 runs.
Linde named 'POTM'
Linder was named 'Player of the Match' for the 48-run knock and four wickets for just 21 runs. In the post-match presentation ceremony, he revealed that he missed the team bus and was escorted by the police to the venue.
"Almost a perfect comeback game apart from the hat-trick ball. I have played quite a lot of cricket, have had a pretty good season so far, tried to keep calm and ask myself what the team needs. When he gave it out I was surprised but told the boys it was going down leg (hat-trick ball). I felt calm today for some reason. I missed the bus while coming to the ground, I thought I had to deliver and glad I did. The police escorted me to the ground," Linde told the broadcaster.
