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On Monday, South Africa registered a comfortable victory over Pakistan in the second T20I by six wickets at the Wanderers S🥃t💯adium in Johannesburg. The win prop🍸elled Proteas to level the ongoing three-match T20I series 1-1. The visitors had earlier won the series opener by four wickets.
Aiden Markram’s scintillating effort from the willow helped his side to bounce back in the series. The right-handed batsman scored a remarkable half-century as the home team chased down the paltry target of 141 in 14 overs.
Markram smashed 54 from 30 deliveries at a brilliant strike rate of 180, featuring seven fours and three sixes. Apart from the 26-year-old, captain Heinrich Klaasen made a v𒆙aluable contribution of unbeaten 36 off 21 balls to take his team over the finish line.
For the tourists, spinner Usman Qadir picked up two wickets for 26 in 3 overs, while Hasan Ali and Mohammad Hasnain bagged one scalp each.
Earlier, South Africa bowlers showed tremendous discipline and restricted the Men in Green at 140/9 in their allotted 20 overs. For Pakistan, only their skipper Babar Azam was the main highlight. He scored a gutsy half-century before Sisanda Magala cut short his innings. Except for Babar, senior lad Mohammad Hafeez scored 🌱32 off 23 balls to take his side towards a competitive total.
Left-arm spinner George Linde was another major contributor for South Africa in the stunning victory. The all-rounder picked up three wickets for just 23 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Lizaad Williams, who was playing only his second T20I, also earned a three-wicket haul but conceded 35 runs at a poor economy of 8.80. Post the match, Linde was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding show.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Credit to South Africa – they have so many first choice players missing yet they have confortably won by 6 wickets with 36 balls to spare
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
3 wickets 👏
3 catches 🔥
20* off 10 balls 😲George Linde was the Player of the Match after South Africa's series-levelling victory.
— ICC (@ICC)
George Linde becomes the first ever spinner to dismiss a batsman 'caught' on the first ball of a men's international match.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Back 🍌to back fifties for Aiden Markram on T20I comeback. Hard to believe hoᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚw South Africa have underused him for years.
— stuart broad apologist (@cricketpun_duh)
Aiden Markram's second fifty of the series set-up SA's dominant 6 wicket win with 6 overs to spare 👏👏
Series tied 1-1
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
//twittಞ𝓡er.com/Gillian_Price/status/1381591989452431363
RESULT – Aiden Markram top-scored with 54 as South Africa cruised to a 6♚-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20I at the Wanderers.
— SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag)
George Li𓃲nde is amazing. Solid all round cricketer and such a humble character 👑❤️
— the little boy from Rosario, Argentina (𝕴@SabeehaꦡMajid)
Amidst all the﷽ madness at the Wankhede Stadium I happened to catch an absolute class act from Aiden Markram. Geez what a player! Should be an an all-format player for a long time. Needs to ensure the big runs keep coming consistently. Drool worthy strokeplay th🧸ough
— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7)
Top new-ball spell ✅
Safe hands in the field ✅
Batting cameo that helped seal a quick win ✅George Linde's all-round contribution wins him the Player of the Match award! 👏
— Em~ (@monikamadasamy)
//t♉witter.com/Tshepo_SS/status/1381615040919388160
//twitter.com/RatCat༺c59543750/stat🗹us/1381626227417624582
