Bloemfontein ODI: South Africa beat Pakistan by 125 runs; take 1-0 lead

Bloemfontein ODI: South Africa beat Pakistan by 125 runs.

Feroz Khan/Zeenews Sports Bureau

SCORECARD» I COMMENTARY» ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 36.2 II Score: 190/10 (Khan: 0*) South Africa have defeated Pakistan in the first ODI by 125 runs to take 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. Shahid Afridi was the last man to be dismissed after being caught by Farhaan Behardien in the deep as he mistimed a pull off Rory Kleinveldt. This was Kleinveldt’s fourth wicket in the innings and his career best performance for South Africa. Afridi scored 34 (16b, 4X2, 6X3). Pakistan were never in the game as they failed to keep pace with the climbing run rate and the flow of wicket at regular intervals blunted their chase. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 35 II Score: 178/9 (Afridi: 23*, Khan: 0*) From bad to worse! This phrase aptly sums up the Pakistan’s batting at the moment. They needed to score at over a run-a-ball but not only have they failed to meet the required run rate but also lost wickets. Kamran Akmal became their sixth batsmen to leave for the pavilion after top edging a short one from McLaren to Smith at long leg. In came big-hitting Shahid Afridi to the crease and he smacked Peterson for a biggie off his fourth delivery. That over (33rd) fetched them 11 runs. Tsotsobe came back into the attack as Pakistan took the powerplay. He removed Shoaib Malik who failed to pick up his slower one and handed a simple catch to third man. He scored 19 (21b, 4X2). Kleinveldt then was on a hat-trick after removing Gul and Ajmal off his successive deliveries. Gul went after gifting a simple return catch while Saeed Ajmal was adjudged lbw. Meanwhile, Afridi is providing some entertainment to the crowd with some brilliant hits. He has two sixes and a boundary to his name. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 30 II Score: 144/5 (Malik: 13*, Akmal: 0*) Kyle Abbott opens his account in ODI cricket with the wicket of Younis Khan. His fourth delivery of the 26th over was full and wide and Younis went for a drive but ended up getting a thick outside edge that was easily taken by AB de Villiers. He scored 30 (51b, 4X1). Shoaib Malik is the new man joining his captain in the middle. Three runs and a wicket in the over. Misbah then lofted a full delivery from Tsotsobe over long-on for a maximum. Pakistan took 10 runs from the over. Off the next over from Peterson, Misbah swept him for his fourth boundary. Nine runs in total from the over. However, Smith brought Ryan McLaren back into the attack and he thanked his skipper with the prized wicket of Misbah. He was caught by keeper Villiers after gloving a short delivery. He scored 38 (44b, 4X4, 6X1). That’s a big blow for Pakistan. Smith then introduced right arm medium fast Farhaan Behardien into the attack. Malik cut and pulled him for two consecutive boundaries. Farhaan leaked nine runs in his first over. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 25 II Score: 111/3 ( Khan: 29*, Haq: 21*) The scoring rate has picked up in the past five overs. The 21st over brought the visitors five runs. Off the next, they went a run better and collected six runs. Misbah finally scored his first boundary after playing 20 devilries off Peterson. He then added another to his total off the final delivery taking the count from the over to eight runs. Abbott came back into the attack in the 24th over. Younis and Misbah scored a boundary each in the over. 10 runs were added from his six deliveries. Smith brought back Tsotsobe into the attack and he bowled a tight over leaking just five runs. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 20 II Score: 77/3 ( Khan: 13*, Haq: 4*) Pakistan have lost their third wicket in Asad Shafiq. Ryan McLaren dropped one short and Shafiq went with the hook. Failed to connect it properly and ended up edging it to Kyle Abbott at long leg where he took a good low catch. Shafiq scored 5 (14b). A wicket and four runs from the 16th over. Off the 17th over bowled by Peterson, Pakistan could only add a single to their total. They took two runs from the 18th while 19th fetched them four – a couple and two singles. A welcome boundary for Pakistan via leg bye off the first ball of the 20th over. They added a single to it making it five from the over. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 15 II Score: 61/2 ( Khan: 8*, Shafiq: 3*) A lot of drama in the middle! Younis Khan drove one from Kleinveldt (11.2) straight past him and set off for a single. The ball uprooted a stump at the non-strikers’ end. Kleinveldt began celebrating as he claimed that the ball brushed his finger as it went past. Hafeez was already out of his crease when the ball hit the stump. The batting duo continued with the state of affairs and ran three even as the African team began celebrating. The umpire eventually went for the replay and after viewing the shot from different angles and using zoom; they finally concluded that it was out. Hafeez scored 25 (38b, 4X3). Smith introduced spin in Robin Peterson in the 11th over and the tweaker immediately made impact as he drew Younis forward and de Villiers appealed for a catch. The decision was reviewed and replays clearly showed that the ball was nowhere near the bat as it went past Younis. Five runs came in that over. Off the 13th, 14th and 15th over, Pakistan managed only seven runs. The run rate has climbed to 7.28/over. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 10 II Score: 47/1 (Hafeez: 13*, Khan: 0*) Pakistan have lost the wicket of Nasir Jamshed early as he was caught by Graeme Smith off Rory Kleinveldt. It was a full delivery and Jamshed went for a drive but ended up edging it to Smith at first slip. He scored 25 (19b, 4X5). Off the previous over, Faf du Plessis grassed a chance as Hafeez dropped a simple chance at point off Tsotsobe much to the dismay of the bowler. Jamshed was looking good and had scored back-to-back boundaries off Kleinveldt’s first over. His departure brought veteran Younis Khan to the middle. ==================================================================================== PAKISTAN Overs: 5 II Score: 28/0 (Jamshed: 15,Hafeez: 13*) Left-arm medium pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe began the proceedings as right handed Mohammad Hafeez took guard. Partnering him as Pakistan look to chase down a big total is left-handed Nasir Jamshed. First over brings them just three runs. Kyle Abbott joins Tsotsobe from the other end. Off second over, the duo collected two boundaries each. Hafeez added another boundary in the next. Jamshed they drove Abbott’s third delivery of the fourth over for four and then played the next fine for second consecutive boundary. In his third over (innings’ fifth), Tsotsobe gave just three runs. 97, 48, 101*, 106*, 34 – Jamshed’s score in last five ODI innings (lastest being 34 against India in Delhi). ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 50 II Score: 315/4 (Ingram: 105*, Behardien: 34*) South Africa finish with 315/6 with Colin Ingram recording his third ODI century. Colin Ingram reached his third ODI century with a stylish boundary through covers. An excellent knock from Ingram! He punches the air as he celebrates and acknowledges the crowd. He followed that up with another boundary. However, Gul managed to keep them shut as three runs were scored off his next four deliveries. Behardien, who had come in at No. 6, took the matters in his hand in the 49th over and smoked Junaid for two consecutive sixes. The first one was hit over long-on while the next was a pull over midwicket region. 16 runs came from the 49th over. Junaid Khan finally got a wicket in Faf Du Plessis as he attempted a paddle scoop that was well taken by Umar Gul. He scored 26 (29b, 4X4). Farhaan Behardien replaced him in the middle. His third delivery bowled by Khan was a bouncer and he had no second thoughts before hooking it to deep square leg for his first boundary. Off the previous over by Gul, Ingram scored a boundary and added three more to his total with Plessis scoring a single as they took eight runs from it. The 48th over was an expensive one from Gul as 17 runs were scored as Behardien and Ingram shared three boundaries between them apart from a triple and two singles. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 45 II Score: 257/3 (Ingram: 82*, Plessis: 25*) After that mauling, Afridi was taken out of attack. Misbah brought Gul back into the attack. Spin from one end in Ajmal and pace in Gul currently in operation in these final 10 overs. Off the 41st over came just three singles. Off the next they took six more. Ajmal continued from the other end keeping a tight grip on the batsmen in these final overs as his ninth and innings 43rd over went for just four runs. Five more runs were added to the total in the next over by Gul while finally a boundary was scored off Ajmal in the next by Plessis as SA took seven runs from it. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 40 II Score: 232/3 (Ingram: 69*, Plessis: 13*) Saeed Ajmal gets his second wicket in AB de Villiers. Ajmal might feel luck on this occasion as he dropped one short and De Villiers made room but ended up playing it to Younis Khan at cover. De Villiers scored 65 (63b, 4X4). His departure brought Faf du Plessis to the middle. Off the previous over (35th), bowled by Afridi, six runs were scored including a boundary by de Villiers. Afridi’s first delivery of the next over hit Plessis on the pad as the batsman went for a sweep. The umpire turned down the appeal and Afridi went for the review. The decision was upheld. Five runs were scored in that over. Off the 39th over, Ajmal allowed them to score just a single. However, Ingram and De Villiers smoked the 40th over bowled by Afridi for 21 runs that included five boundaries – two by Ingram and three by Plessis. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 35 II Score: 197/2 (Ingram: 56*, Villiers: 60*) 34 runs have been scored off the past five overs. Ajmal came back into the attack in the 31st over and Ingram struck two boundaries in the over to deep backward square leg region and through point. Ingram reached his fifty in the next over with a single off Junaid. Ajmal kept leaking runs and de Villiers smashed him for two consecutive boundaries – the first of which brought up his half-century. 12 runs came in that 33rd over. Off the next two overs a total of nine runs were scored –five in Junaid’s and four in Ajmal’s. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 30 II Score: 163/2 (Ingram: 40*, Villiers: 43*) The Proteas' innings is shaping up nicely. The duo of Ingram and Villiers are steering the innings forward after they lost the wickets of openers Smith and Amla in quick intervals. The 26th over saw Shoaib Malik introduced into the attack replacing Afridi. His first went for five runs. Off the next bowled by Hafeez, SA took three runs. Malik’s second over was taken for five more runs while the next fetched them six runs. Off the 30th, de Villiers shimmied down the track and hit his first boundary. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 25 II Score: 133/2 (Ingram: 29*, Villiers: 25*) Halfway down the innings South Africa are 133/2. Colin Ingram and AB de Villiers have added 50 runs for the third wicket. Off the past five overs, SA have scored 25 runs. Five runs came in the 21st over bowled by Hafeez. 22nd over proved to be a productive one for the home squad as they collected 11 runs from it including a boundary by Ingram. Off the next two overs, 12 runs were scored- six in each. 25th over proved to be a tight one as Hafeez leaked just two singles. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 20 II Score: 108/2 (Ingram: 15*, Villiers: 14*) Saeed Ajmal taken out of attack and Shahid Afridi has been introduced. Afridi is playing in his 350th ODI for Pakistan. His first over went for just three runs. Mohammad Hafeez took his first wicket in Hashim Amla in the next over after having him caught at deep square leg. It was bowled on the off and Amla went for the sweep. He couldn’t connect it properly and as a result was caught by Shoaib Malik. He scored 43 (43b, 4X6). Off the 18th over came six runs. Colin Ingram scored his first boundary of the innings off Hafeez in the next over to deep square leg region. Off the 20th came just five runs as the score moved to 108/2. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 15 II Score: 79/1 (Amla: 41*, Villiers: 5*) South Africa have surprised everyone by taking the batting powerplay. Things were going smoothly for the home team as Misbah-ul-haq introduced spinners from both the ends. Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal are blowing in tandem for Pakistan. Ajmal’s first over fetched SA nine runs - eight of them scored via two boundaries -each to Smith and Amla. Ajmal had his revenge in his next over as Smith went for a reverse paddle sweep. The ball hit him on the gloves and after hitting the forearm was caught by keeper Kamran Akmal. He scored 30 (47b, 4X4). ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 10 II Score: 50/0 (Amla: 27*, Smith: 22*) After the end of 10 overs, South Africa have managed to see off the difficult time as Umar Gul and Junaid Khan have kept them guessing with some tight bowling. The sixth over bowled by Gul saw Amla scoring a boundary via an inside edge to fine leg. Smith began the next over with a boundary through midwicket region off Junaid. He added another boundary in the same over to his total by playing the fourth delivery back over Junaid’s head. Smith pulled Gul’s penultimate delivery of the next over to midwicket boundary. Off the ninth over came six runs including a quite difficult catch of Amla that Hafeez failed to snaffle. The 10th over saw Proteas adding 10 more runs to the total that included a boundary taking the score to 50 runs. ==================================================================================== SOUTH AFRICA Overs: 5 II Score: 15/0 (Amla: 11*, Smith: 3*) Junaid Khan began proceedings for Pakistan as Graeme Smith took guard at the strikers’ end. Joining him is Hashim Amla from the other end. A maiden to start with. Umar Gul sharing new ball with Junaid and he too starts off with a maiden. Junaid’s fourth delivery of the next over hits Amla on the pads but umpire turns down the appeal. That was pitched outside leg. Amla breaks the deadlock and drives his final delivery through covers for a boundary. The next from Umar fetches SA just one and that too thanks to a wide. Junaid’s fourth delivery of the fifth over is short and Amla pulls it to midwicket region for his second boundary. ==================================================================================== TOSS: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Pakistan will look to forget the memories of the recently concluded Test series when they play against South Africa at Bloemfontein for the first ODI. Pakistan were completely outclassed by the home team during the three-match series which they lost 0-3. However, they’ll look to end the tour on a high in the five-match limited over series. They though defeated South Africa in the second T20I by 95 runs after the first match was washed out. They will look to continue their form in limited overs format. For home team, even though they might be the best team in the Test arena at the moment, their form in 50-over cricket hasn’t been that consistent. ==================================================================================== TEAMS South Africa: AB de Villiers (c & wk), Graeme Smith, Rory Kleinveldt, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Ryan McLaren, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Colin Ingram Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Kamran Akmal (wk), Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal, Younis Khan, Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz