Hendricks, Linde and Bosch carry SA to 1-0 lead

An all-round performance from George Linde (36 off 22 and 3 for 31) guided South Africa to a comprehensive 55-run win in the first of the three T20Is against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Reeza Hendricks struck a fine 60, while Corbin Bosch and Linde tore through the Pakistan batting lineup, with the fast bowler claiming a four-wicket haul.

After being put in to bat, Quinton de Kock wasted little time settling in before launching into a flurry of boundaries. He feasted on anything on the leg side and took Saim Ayub for two fours, but the part-timer continued his knack for breaking partnerships as de Kock sliced one to cover point. By then, Hendricks was well set, having driven two flat-bat shots to the fence, and found support from debutant Tony de Zorzi.

South Africa finished the PowerPlay strongly, racing to 74 for 1 with three boundaries each in the final two overs. The pair then took 15 runs off Salman Ali Agha's over, but de Zorzi fell stumped for an entertaining 16-ball 33. Pakistan clawed their way back as Dewald Brevis lasted just five balls, and Ayub struck again to remove Matthew Breetzke. Donovan Ferreira also departed cheaply, leaving South Africa wobbling after a strong start.

Hendricks steadied the innings, bringing up his 18th T20I fifty off 33 balls despite the flurry of wickets around him. Linde, after taking eight balls to settle, launched into Shaheen Afridi with four consecutive boundaries in the 17th over. He then slog-swept Abrar Ahmed for six, though the legspinner hit back by dismissing Hendricks, before Linde himself was bowled in the next over. Afridi cleaned up the tail in a busy final over as South Africa posted 194 for 9.

Pakistan's chase began shakily as Ayub nearly fell for a duck in the opening over, only for Breetzke to drop him. Sahibzada Farhan briefly lifted the tempo with four boundaries in seven balls before Lizaad Williams knocked him over. The returning Babar Azam fell for a duck soon after, leaving Pakistan at 34 for 2 at the end of the PowerPlay.

The pressure built as Agha departed cheaply for 2 off 7. Ayub responded with intent, hitting back-to-back sixes off Linde and another in the spinner's next over, but Linde had the last laugh, dismissing him at cover. He then removed Usman Khan and Faheem Ashraf in quick succession, while Lungi Ngidi accounted for Hasan Nawaz to leave Pakistan reeling at 89 for 7.

Mohammad Nawaz briefly counterattacked, taking 15 off Ngidi, but Bosch struck to remove Afridi. Naseem Shah added two boundaries off Williams before edging behind to Bosch, who finished with 4 for 14. Nawaz continued to swing hard, collecting 14 off Nandre Burger, but Williams ended the innings in the final over to seal a thumping South African win.

Brief Scores: South Africa 194/9 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 60, George Linde 36; Mohammad Nawaz 3-26, Saim Ayub 2-31) beat Pakistan 139 in 18.1 overs (Saim Ayub 37, Mohammad Nawaz 36; Corbin Bosch 4-14, George Linde 3-36) by 55 runs