South African left-arm orthodox spinner George Linde has picked up the first five-wicket haul in Test cricket as South Africa dismissed Pakistan for 298 in the second innings to set up a target of 370 for themselves at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Linde, 29, who is playing only his third Test, had got injured in the first innings as a Babar Azam straight drive hit him on his fingers in the follow-through. There were visible red spots on his whites and Linde rushed to the dressing room.
"I started running off when I saw a bone sticking out and I just popped it in myself," he said. But to his surprise, his finger was not broken. "I went for X-rays and for some reason my finger wasn't broken. I was quite happy with that," added the Capetown born.
Although he could only bowl 5.5 overs in the first innings, the left-hander contributed with the bat by scoring 21 runs in South Africa’s first innings. "I always say you never know when you will get another opportunity to play for your country. It's not going to get me down, because it's just pain,” Linde explained his decision of being part of the game
It was in the Pakistani second innings that he actually pulled out a brilliant performance, finishing with the figures of 5-64 in his 26 overs.
Sying that his injury is nothing compared to all the misery that people are going through, Linde exemplified team spirit. “There are people who are sick at home, people who are losing their jobs, people who are dying from Covid or other diseases or something. My injury is nothing compared to that," he said.
On being asked about whether the little finger causing any hurdle to him to while bowling, he said, "I had to make a small adjustment with the grip. I didn't even know I use my pinkie (little finger) when I bowl. It's weird because every time I bowl, I have to first lift it up a little bit to get a better grip.”
With 243 runs still needed for South Africa going into the last day at Rawalpindi, Linde's ability to handle the bat is going to come handy for the Proteas in levelling the series. Pakistan have won the first Test and have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
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