George Linde stars with bat and ball as Proteas level T20 series against Pakistan

Date: April 13, 2021 | Posted in News | Sports News

SA levelled their four-match Twenty20 series with Pakistan after an improved performance from the bowlers helped them to a six-wicket win at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Monday.

It was a marked improvement for the bowlers‚ who were not accurate with their lines and lengths in the opening match at the same venue on Saturday‚ as the visitors took the lead after chasing down their highest total in T20s.

There were no such worries this time around as the Proteas clawed their way back to tie the series at 1-1 with two more matches to come at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday and Friday to conclude the seven-match series.

Left-arm spinner George Linde [3/23] and left-arm paceman Lizaad Williams [3/35] found their range on a good batting pitch and led the bowling charge with three wickets apiece in their four overs each to help the Proteas skittle out Pakistan for an average 140/9.

Linde‚ who also starred with the bat with 20 runs off 10‚ struck with the first ball of the afternoon after dangerous Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan charged down and mistimed his shot and was caught at mid-off by Aiden Markram.

Linde struck again in his second over to dismiss another dangerous opener Sharjeel Khan as Pakistan slumped to 10/2 after 2.5 overs.

Babar Azam’s team never got going after he won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat first.

Mohammad Hafeez‚ in his 101st T20 international match‚ combined with captain Azam and consolidated their innings with a good partnership until the end of the 10th over‚ when Linde grabbed his third wicket‚ Hafeez edging to Heinrich Klaasen for 32 valuable runs off 23 balls.