Proteas hold their nerve in Durban as Miller, Linde set up win over Pakistan

A stellar innings of 82 by David Miller, backed by George Linde's 48 and 4/21, helped set up the Proteas' win over Pakistan in the first T20 in Durban on Tuesday.

South Africa secured victory by 11 runs in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout.

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????South Africa win by 11 runs down in Durban.

The Proteas take a 1-0 lead in the 3-Match KFC T20i Series, as they head up to Pretoria next.???????#WozaNawe#BePartOfIt #SAVPAK pic.twitter.com/uqQlJwZsMT

Set 184 on a belter of a wicket, Pakistan were initially in the hunt but gradually fell behind the required rate before skipper Mohammed Rizwan pulled them back into the contest.

He top scored for the visitors with 72 off 64 balls, while Saim Ayub contributed 31 off 15.

It was a good bowling display by the South African attack, as 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka (2/39) held his nerve to defend 19 off the final over. He also sent down the fastest delivery of the match, tracked at just over 151 km/h.

It was Linde, however, who grabbed three wickets in the 18th over to stifle Pakistan's momentum as they clawed their way back into a match they looked far from winning with five overs to go.

Earlier, Miller scored a belligerent 82 of 49 balls (4x4, 8x6) but didn't receive much support from the rest of South Africa's batting lineup, other than Linde (48), as wickets fell at regular intervals.  

South Africa, opting to bat first after winning the toss, started poorly, losing Rassie van der Dussen (0), Matthew Breetzke (8), and Reeza Hendricks (8) as they struggled to 28/3 after 4 overs.

Skipper Heinrich Klaasen and Miller were forced to rebuild the innings, with the latter taking the initiative as he looked positive from the moment he walked to the