PAK vs SA: Linde, Miller shine as South Africa beat Pakistan in first T20I

South Africa claimed an 11-run victory over Pakistan in the first T20I at Kingsmead, Durban, with George Linde and David Miller delivering standout performances.  

David Miller led the South African innings with a brutal 82 off 40 balls, showcasing his power and precision. Coming in at No. 4 after early wickets fell, Miller built momentum with boundaries in the powerplay and punished spinners like Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, hitting sixes with ease. By the time Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him, Miller had scored 82 of South Africa’s 125 runs during his stay.  

George Linde added to the team’s total with a quickfire 48 off 24 balls, including three sixes in the final over, as South Africa posted 183/9. Linde’s finishing push ensured Pakistan couldn’t wrap up the innings early despite a strong effort from Shaheen (3-22) and Abrar (3-37).  

In response, Pakistan struggled to keep up with the chase. Mohammad Rizwan started slowly, scoring 36 off his first 44 balls. Though he picked up pace towards the end with 74 off 62, Pakistan fell short, finishing at 172/8. Saim Ayub’s explosive 31 in the powerplay gave the team hope, but the middle order couldn’t keep the required rate under control.  

Linde was the star with the ball as well, taking 4/21 and applying pressure through the middle overs. He nearly achieved a hat-trick in the 19th over, but a review saved Haris Rauf.  

The match saw a dramatic turn when Pakistan needed 19 runs in the final over. Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old debutant, dismissed Rizwan with a slower ball, sealing the win for South Africa.  

Despite the loss, Pakistan’s captain Rizwan’s gamble to attack at the death didn’t pay off. "Tactics are judged by outcomes, and today it didn’t work out," Rizwan admitted.  

The second match of the series will test whether Pakistan can bounce back after South Africa’s clinical display.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed

South Africa (Playing XI): Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Heinrich Klaasen (wk/c), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman