“It was embarrassing” - South Africa all-rounder misses team bus to later bag POTM award in SA vs PAK 2024 1st T20I
South Africa all-rounder George Linde revealed that he had missed the team bus ahead of the first T20I against Pakistan, where he put on an all-round performance. The left-handed player scored 48 runs off 24 balls and recorded figures of 4-21 to be adjudged Player of the Match in Proteas' 11-run win in Durban on Tuesday, December 10.
Linde was part of the second-string South Africa side announced for the Pakistan series. With the three-match affair scheduled to begin just a day after the Proteas' Test series against Sri Lanka, Heinrich Klaasen was appointed captain, as major players missed out due to fixture congestion.
The series opener against Pakistan was Linde's first international appearance since 2021. The 33-year-old had the task of handling the batting in the death overs, following David Miller's (82) dismissal in the 14th over. He smashed Sufiyan Muqeem for three sixes in the final over to stretch the hosts' total to 183-9.
With the ball, he dismissed Usman Khan in the 10th over and was on the verge of picking up a hat-trick in the 18th. The hosts restricted Pakistan to 172-8 and won by 11 runs.
Linde narrated how he was late for the team bus, which drove him to perform well for the side in the first T20I.
"For some reason, my phone was 15 minutes behind time. I had thought to myself, 'OK, at four o'clock I'm going to walk down and I'm going to get into the bus nice and early," Linde recalled during the post-match press conference (via Cricbuzz).
"And then as I came out of the team hotel I saw the bus leaving, and that feeling was not great. Luckily there were police escorts and they took me to the bus. Actually no-one realised I wasn't on the bus, which was actually quite cool. It was embarrassing, but I reckon for the next game I might just be late again," he added.
Linde recorded his career-best score and figures to make a serious statement upon his return. While Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi usually lead South Africa's spin department, the left-arm all-rounder comes across as a lucrative choice due to his batting ability, posing to resolve South Africa's balance and lower middle-order woes.
"When David got out, I was nervous" - South Africa all-rounder George Linde
With all the recognized South African batters back in the hut, there were still six overs remaining in the innings. Linde had to hang around with the lower order to stretch the team's total from 135-6. He took on wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and maneuvered the remaining bowlers smartly to stay at the crease till the end.
"When David got out, I was nervous. I asked myself what the team needed from me at that very moment. Luckily, I was nice and calm and relaxed," Linde said in the same presser.
The second T20I between South Africa and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 13, at Centurion.