South Africa’s spinner George Linde made a stunning comeback after three years, but not without some drama. Before the first T20 match against Pakistan in Durban, Linde missed the team bus and had to be escorted to Kingsmead by the police.
Despite the rocky start, Linde delivered a match-winning performance that helped South Africa secure an 11-run victory on Tuesday.
Linde’s all-round display included four wickets and a quickfire 48 runs off 24 balls, leading his team to a solid total of 183-9 in 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first. In response, Pakistan managed 172-8, falling short of the target.
Talking about his performance, Linde said, “It feels like a dream comeback. I’ve played a lot of cricket recently and had a good season. I just try to stay calm, focus on what the team needs, and deliver. Missing the bus today added some pressure, but I’m glad I could contribute.”
He further added, “I felt unusually calm today. When the police escorted me to the ground, it was a bit embarrassing, but it motivated me to perform for the team.”
David Miller also starred with the bat, smashing 82 runs off 40 balls, including four sixes and eight fours, ensuring South Africa set a challenging total.
With the ball, Linde excelled, taking 4-21 in four overs. He came close to a hat trick but was denied when Haris Rauf’s leg-before decision was overturned on review. Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, fought hard with an unbeaten 74 runs before falling in the last over, but his efforts weren’t enough to chase down the target.
The two teams will face each other again in Pretoria on Friday and then in Johannesburg on Saturday for the remaining T20 matches. Following this, they will compete in a three-match ODI series next week.
