Aiden Markram’s imperious display with the willow might be the performance that most Proteas fans recall when they look back on Tuesday night’s emphatic victory over the West Indies, but the South African captain might admit otherwise on reflection.
Yes, Markram’s 86 not out provided the fireworks and the entertainment during South Africa’s nine-wicket win at Boland Park over the Caribbean nations as they easy chased down the 173/7 posted by the visitors, but there is much to be said about an earlier over during the West Indies’ innings.
In T20 cricket, one over is often all it takes to win a match, and that could certainly be true of George Linde’s fourth and last over. Entrusted with the final over of the innings, Linde’s input made it all the easier for his batters to chase down a less difficult target.
With the West Indies on 168/5, a rampaging Shimron Hetmyer on the charge and an equally dangerous Rovman Powell at the other end, the 34-year-old kept it neat and tidy with his left-arm spin. He not only dispatched Hetmyer, who finished with 48 runs off 32 balls, but he dismissed Jason Holder as well, restricting the over to only five runs, and Linde finishing the match with figures of 3/25.
That final over set up the South African chase nicely, allowing Markram and Co to step out with a measured aggression. Surprising as it might sound, Player of the Match Linde was not too convinced by his own performance and admitted that he relied heavily on his veteran instincts instead.
“I didn’t feel good with the ball but I still tried to find a way to be effective for the team,” Linde said after the match.
“I have learnt through the year now that you don’t have to fight it if you feel like that on the day. It is what it is, and you have to find a way to be good for the team.”
The Proteas now move to the Highveld for the second and third T20Is, the first of which will be at SuperSport Park on Friday. Victory there will seal the three-match series.
