Miller, Linde star as South Africa beats Pakistan in T20I series opener

Spinner George Linde took four wickets, plus scored 48 runs off 24 balls with the bat, to lead South Africa to an 11-run win over Pakistan in the first of their three Twenty20 internationals at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

Linde ensured South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat first, set a tough target as they made 183-9 off their 20 overs.

Pakistan managed to score 172-8 in reply, falling short of the target.

David Miller top scored for South Africa with 82 off 40 runs in a swashbuckling innings that included four sixes and eight fours.

Linde then took 4-21 in four overs, but was denied a hat-trick when his last ball was initially adjudged to have trapped Haris Rauf leg before wicket. The decision was overturned on review when the ball tracker showed the ball would have missed the leg stump.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan in action during the first T20I against South Africa in Durban.AFP

Pakistan batters were always struggling to keep up with the required run rate despite captain Mohammad Rizwan batting through to the last over before being dismissed for 74.

The two teams meet next in Pretoria on Friday and then again on Saturday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.