Pakistan Super League made me a better player, says Proteas match-winner George Linde

Proteas allrounder George Linde believes his Pakistan Super League (PSL) experience played a major role in his match-winning performance in the first T20I in Rawalpindi on Tuesday evening.

The visitors comfortably won the opening match of the series by 55 runs due to Linde’s stealthy contribution in both disciplines.

Linde struck 36 runs off 22 balls (4x4, 1x6) to lift the Proteas to 192/9 after a mid-innings wobble before showing character to come back after a slow start with the ball to finish with figures of 3/31.

The 33-year-old has previously played for both the Lahore Qalanders and Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL and believes this aided his performance.

“I've played PSL before,” Linde said. “I think to come here for PSL and get the experience because the wickets over here do play a lot different than at home.

“It's always nice to come here and experience the wickets. I believe it makes you a better player. It makes you understand your game when you go to different grounds.”

Fellow allrounder Corbin Bosch, however, showed Pakistan crowds what they missed out on in last season’s PSL with career-best figures of 4/14.

Bosch was a diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi at the PSL draft last year, but later withdrew from the competition after being signed up as a replacement player for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The PCB served Bosch with a legal notice for allegedly breaching his contract, while the PSL hit the allrounder with a one year penalty ban for his withdrawal after being picked up at the draft. 

All of this made Bosch determined to put in a performance as he led a Proteas attack that was without its first-choice fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

“Obviously we've got a lot of depth in South Africa. All the players here are very exciting,” Linde said.

“You never know, they knock on the door and who knows what can happen.

“I'm very excited for this group. Obviously there are some big players back at home now preparing for this match which is also very important for South Africa.

“We just play as we see it. We've got a lot of experience in our squad and younger players. It's very exciting to watch.

“We just had good game plans and I think we executed it. Especially the seamers, they were amazing in this game.”

The Proteas now travel to Lahore for the remainder of this three-match T20I series with the next clash for Friday at the Gaddafi Stadium.