Reeza half century, Linde fireworks help Proteas set Pakistan 195 to win first T20I
A composed half century from Reeza Hendricks and some-lower order fireworks from George Linde were the key contributions in a decent batting effort as the Proteas set Pakistan 195 to win the first KFC T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on Tuesday.
Hendricks struck a solid 60 off 40 balls (5x4; 1x6) up front, while Linde clubbed 36 off 22 (4x1; 1x6) down the back end, including 18 off a Shaheen Shah Afridi over near the end, to help the Proteas reach 194-9 at the end of their 20 overs.
Good fight from Pakistan in the middle overs and at the end, led by Mohammad Nawaz (3-26) and Saim Ayub (2-31) made sure the Proteas were unable to get over the 200-run mark.
The Proteas' innings got off to a rollicking start thanks to Hendricks and Quinton de Kock, 23 off 13 (5x4), in his second match back in the national team fold, sharing in a 44-run-opening partnership in under four overs, when De Kock sliced an easy catch to point off Saim Ayub to be the first to fall.
Quinton de Kock goes for a quick-fire 23 off 13 balls 🏏💥
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 28, 2025
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Tony de Zorzi, 33 off 16 (5x4; 1x6), was next in and continued the good start as he combined with Hendricks for a 49-run second-wicket stand as the Proteas continued going at more than 10 to the over.
However, De Zorzi’s wicket, stumped by keeper Usman Khan off the bowling of Mohammad Nawaz in the eight over, with the score 93-2, started a middle-innings fightback from the hosts.
Dewald Brevis (9), Matthew Breetzke (1) and captain Donovan Ferreira (10) all fell cheaply, while the run rate also went down as the Proteas slipped to 139-5 after 14 overs.
Hendricks had been ticking along while watching the carnage at that stage, and had reached a 33-ball 50, when Linde arrived at the crease and proceeded to dominate a quickfire 39-run stand off 21 balls with the opener to set a good platform.
It's a well-played fifty for Reeza Hendricks 👏
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 28, 2025
It's his 18th in T20 Internationals and his third against Pakistan 🙌
📺 Stream #PAKvSA on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#SSCricket pic.twitter.com/LHcnELvW04
But Hendricks's wicket, bowled by Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over, followed by Linde, bowled by Naseem Shah in the next, meant they were unable to fully maximise as just 11 runs came off the final two overs of the innings.
PAKISTAN: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Agha Salman (c), Usman Khan (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed
PROTEAS: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira (c), George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
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