Pakistan men’s cricket team faced yet another setback after they lost the first T20I of the three-match series against South Africa on Tuesday. Playing in Durban, the Proteas posted a whopping total of 183/9 after opting to bat. This total came as a shock because at one stage, South Africa were struggling at 71/4. However, David Miller‘s massive knock of 82 off 40 balls propelled the hosts to a good total. In reply, Pakistan put up a great fight but only managed to score 172/8 and lost the game by 11 runs.

After this loss, veteran Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad slammed Mohammad Rizwan and co for showing “lack of intent”.

“Close but not good enough Pakistan cricket team not learning from there past mistakes. Firstly letting South Africa to 180+ from where they were in the game was unbelievable & then how we went to chase about this target was bizarre from beginning. Too many dot balls and lack of intent in the chase cost us what could have been a victory for Pakistan,” wrote Shahzad on X (formerly Twitter).

Close but not good enough

Pakistan cricket team not learning from thre past mistakes.

Firstly letting South Africa to 180+from where they were in the game was unbelievable & then how we went to chase about this target was bizarre from beginning.

Too many dot balls & lack of…

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) December 10, 2024

In this match, former skipper and star batter Babar Azam registered yet another poor show as he was dismissed for duck. Shahzad also went on criticise the senior players in the team for not taking the responsibility and hiding behind the youngsters.

“Seniors should be leading from the front not hiding behind youngsters. Saim, Shaheen and Abrar were the positives,” wrote Shahzad.

Talking about the match, Miller slammed 82 off 40 balls with four fours and eight sixes and George Linde hit a rapid 48 in a South African total of 183 for nine. Left-arm spinner Linde followed up by taking four for 21.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan hit 74 and his team were still in with a chance of winning until he was caught off the second ball of the final over.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack, taking three for 22 – and reaching 100 wickets in T20 internationals.

(With AFP Inputs)

A power-packed innings by David Miller and a career-best all-round performance by George Linde took South Africa to an 11-run win in the first T20I century against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Friday. Miller slammed 82 off 40 balls with four fours and eight sixes and Linde hit a rapid 48 in a South African total of 183 for nine. Left-arm spinner Linde followed up by taking four for 21. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan hit 74 and his team were still in with a chance of winning until he was caught off the second ball of the final over.

“It was almost the perfect comeback,” said Linde after being ignored by successive South African selectors for more than three years.

Linde said he felt calm with both bat and ball – but he said he felt he “had to deliver a good performance” after missing the team bus to the ground. He needed a police escort to catch up.   

Linde took two wickets in his final over and briefly had a hat-trick when Haris Rauf was given out leg before wicket before successfully reviewing the decision.

Rizwan said the individual performances of Miller and Linde was the difference between the teams. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi led a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack, taking three for 22 – and reaching 100 wickets in T20 internationals.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took three for 37 despite being hit for three successive sixes by Miller.

Miller was in sublime form but the rest of South Africa’s top order failed, with only captain Heinrich Klaasen (12) reaching double figures.

Miller was sixth out with the total on 135 in the 14th over but Linde hit four sixes in a 24-ball innings – including three in the last over by Sufiyan Muqeem – to take South Africa to a respectable total.