Fri Dec 13 15:44:35 UTC 2024: ## South Africa Thrash Pakistan by 11 Runs in Thrilling T20 Opener
**Durban, South Africa:** South Africa kicked off their series against Pakistan with a resounding 11-run victory in the first T20I at Durban on Tuesday. David Miller’s explosive 82 off 40 balls, featuring 4 fours and 8 sixes, and George Linde’s all-round brilliance (48 runs and 4 wickets) powered the Proteas to a challenging 183/6.
Despite captain Mohammad Rizwan’s fighting 74, Pakistan’s chase faltered. The early dismissal of Babar Azam for a duck and Linde’s deadly bowling proved too much to overcome, leaving Pakistan stranded at 172/7 at the end of their innings. The win continues a challenging year for Pakistan in T20 cricket; they have won only 9 out of 26 matches in 2024 so far. Analysts point to Rizwan’s relatively low strike rate as a key factor in Pakistan’s loss. The series continues with two more T20Is, followed by ODIs and Test matches.
First Piper 