RAWALPINDI: South Africa made a stunning start to their T20I series against Pakistan, clinching a comprehensive 55-run victory in the first match on Wednesday. The Proteas, powered by Corbin Bosch’s four-wicket masterclass and George Linde’s all-round brilliance, outplayed the hosts in every department on a lively Rawalpindi pitch.
Bosch and Linde Lead Proteas Bowling Carnage
Defending a target of 195 runs, South Africa’s pace and spin duo dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup with ruthless efficiency.
Corbin Bosch delivered a spell of pure control and precision, taking 4 wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs — the standout performance of the night.
Left-arm spinner George Linde complemented Bosch perfectly, grabbing 3 wickets for 31 runs and applying pressure in the middle overs.
While Lungi Ngidi and Lizaad Williams chipped in with key wickets, it was Bosch’s disciplined line and Linde’s sharp turn that left Pakistan reeling.
Pakistan Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 195, Pakistan never found their rhythm. The top order faltered against the new ball, and despite brief resistance in the middle overs, partnerships failed to materialize.
Skipper Salman Agha later admitted that his side’s batting approach lacked purpose, emphasizing the need for better strike rotation and partnership-building in upcoming matches.
“We didn’t start well with the ball but pulled it back nicely. However, our batting let us down — we need to rotate the strike and build pressure through partnerships,” Agha reflected post-match.
Hendricks, de Zorzi Anchor South Africa’s Strong Start
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to exploit early conditions. But the Proteas openers had other ideas.
Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks got off to a blazing start, adding over 70 runs in the Powerplay. Hendricks went on to score a composed half-century, becoming the only batter to pass 50 in the innings.
After Saim Ayub dismissed de Kock, Tony de Zorzi joined Hendricks to keep the scoreboard ticking. Pakistan clawed back in the middle overs thanks to Mohammad Nawaz, whose clever spell of 3 for 35 broke the momentum by removing de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis in consecutive overs.
Despite the slowdown, a late cameo from George Linde lifted South Africa to a competitive 194 for 8 — a total that proved more than enough.
Linde Named Player of the Match
For his decisive performance with both bat and ball, George Linde was named Player of the Match. Humble in victory, Linde credited his teammates for setting up the win:
“I honestly don’t think I deserve this award — Corbin Bosch and Reeza Hendricks set the tone. I’m just glad I could finish things off. With the ball, I stuck to my plans and stayed calm, which paid off in the end,” said Linde.
Looking ahead to the next match in Lahore, Linde expressed excitement about playing in front of passionate Pakistani fans:
“It’s an awesome venue. Pakistan will come hard at us, but we’ll be ready.”
Series Moves to Lahore for Second T20I
With this emphatic win, South Africa lead the three-match series 1–0, heading confidently into the second T20I in Lahore. For Pakistan, questions loom large over their middle-order stability and strike rotation — issues they must fix quickly to stay alive in the series.
