South Africa beat Pakistan by 11 runs in the first of three T20Is in Durban, with David Miller smashing 82 runs before George Linde took centre-stage with the ball.

Miller's knock came from just 40 balls faced and featured four fours and eight maximums, ensuring the hosts recovered from a lacklustre start that left them teetering at 28-3.

Abrar Ahmed had taken two wickets in the opening four overs and later added a third, while Shaheen Shah Afridi recorded figures of 3-22 as the Proteas were bowled out for 183.

However, much of the damage was done by Miller, the high point of his knock coming when he pounded three successive sixes off Abrar's bowling in the 10th over. 

While he ultimately succumbed to Afridi's slow ball, his fine knock – and 48 off 24 balls for Linde – gave South Africa a respectable total to defend.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan made 74 off 62 balls and lasted the entire 20 overs after opening, but he received little support from elsewhere – Saim Ayub's 31 being the tourists' next-best score as seven of their batters finished in single figures.

Rizwan finally fell to Kwena Maphaka at the death with Pakistan needing 18 runs from the last five balls, after Linde had teed up South Africa's success with figures of 4-21.

Data Debrief: Miller downs favourite opponents once more

It is fair to say Miller enjoys facing Pakistan in the 20-over format. He has now scored 359 runs against them in T20Is overall. 

This was just the Proteas' second victory in their last seven T20Is against Pakistan, and their first since April 2021, and they will have a chance to seal a series success in Centurion on Friday.