Linde, Markram help Proteas level series

George Linde’s three early wickets and a rampaging half-century from Aiden Markram helped South Africa to a series-levelling six-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20 International at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday.

Having restricted the tourists to a below-par total of just 140 for nine the Proteas stormed to their target in just 14 overs with Markram smashing 54 from only 30 balls (7x4, 3x6) while Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out) and man-of-the-match George Linde (20 not out from 10 balls) finished the job after a small mid-innings wobble.

Linde featured in the first six wickets to fall after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, claiming the first three with the ball to finish with 3-23 from his four overs and then took three well-judged catches in the deep, two off the bowling of Lizaad Williams who bowled superbly in the closing overs to finish with 3-35.

Linde struck with the first ball of the match when Saturday’s match-winner, Mohammad Rizwan, bizarrely danced down the wicket and launched the left-arm spinner high in the air to Markram at mid on.

Sharjeel Khan (8) played a similar shot in Linde’s next over and fell to the same fielder as the tourists slipped to 10 for two before veteran Mohammad Hafeez (32) brought a measure of calm to proceedings during a third-wicket partnership of 58 with captain Babar Azam.

But Linde was back in the wickets in his final over when Hafeez edged him to ‘keeper Klaasen and fellow spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had Haider Ali (12) well caught in the deep by Linde.

Babar reached 50 from 49 balls with only five fours but was bowled by Sisanda Magala one delivery later.

It completed a wonderful comeback by the burly seamer who started with a nightmare, 12-ball first over, including three no balls and three wides which cost 18.

His final analysis of 4-0-32-1 became of the highlights of the innings rather than a lowlight.

Beuran Hendricks (0-27) bowled with great control while Shamsi (4-0-22-1) overcame a couple of expensive overs to return the most economical analysis of the innings.

Janneman Malan (15) was caught at deep square leg after an opening stand of 44 which ensured their would be no early nerves during the run-chase.

Left hander Wihan Lubbe cracked three fours during his 12 from seven balls and Klaasen maintained a cracking pace, smashing his 36 from only 21 deliveries with four fours and a straight six.

The third match takes place at Centurion on Wednesday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen (capt & wk), Pite van Biljon, Wihan Lubbe, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi

PAKISTAN: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Hasnain