Pakistan Slide to Abject Defeat in First ODI against South Africa

Pakistan lose by 125 runs after disappointing in bowling, fielding, and batting

Result: Pakistan lost by 125 runs

Toss:
Pakistan won toss and elected to bat

Teams:

Pakistan
Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal†, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan

South Africa
GC Smith, HM Amla, CA Ingram, AB de Villiers, F du Plessis, F Behardien, R McLaren, RJ Peterson, RK Kleinveldt, KJ Abbott, LL Tsotsobe

South African innings

Pakistan were expected to take their form from the previous T20 to the ODI's, Instead poor batting tactics and bowling from their spinners led them to defeat.

Choosing to play with just two fast bowlers on a the opening pair bowled well in the first five overs with Smith looking unsteady against Gul. Hafeez dropped a catchable ball in the 9th over to give Amla a second life.

The partnership was starting to look ominous as South Africa took the unusual step of taking the batting powerplay in the 11th over. Ajmal got the crucial breakthrough by getting the wicket of Smith, Caught by Kamran trying to play a reverse sweep but instead top edged it. Hafeez made amends by getting Amla caught at deep square leg a few overs later.

Ingram and De villiers then came together to construct a run-a-ball partnership of 120 scoring freely against the spinners. The pair ran well between the wickets smartly maneuvering the field to rotate strike. Lack of dot balls meant that Pakistan were not able to exert any pressure.

The breakthrough finally came in the 37th over when Ajmal removed De villiers trying to go over extra cover. But the damage had already been done as South Africa had a firm base to launch towards the end of the innings.

A controversial LBW referral against Ingram took place when Afridi signaled to the umpire for a review without consulting the captain. The original decision was upheld as it was decided that the ball touched the glove. Afridi was taken to the cleaners in his next over going for five fours. His overall figures read at 60-0 in 8 overs.

Ingram continued the good work coming together with Faf du Plesis keeping Pakistan from getting back into the game. Faf du Plesis was eventually caught at short fine leg trying to lift it over his head. Ingram and Behardien then scored a massive 58 in the last five overs to help South Africa get to 320. Behardien scored 34 off just 14 balls at a strike rate of 242. Ingram also completing a run a ball century in the final over of the match. His second century against Pakistan and his third overall.

Fall of wickets
1-72 (Smith, 13.5 ov)
2-83 (Amla, 16.1 ov)
3-203 (de Villiers, 36.1 ov)
4-265 (du Plessis, 46.1 ov)

Pakistani Innings

Coming in to bat with a big score to chase, Pakistani openers were under a lot of pressure to get the scoreboard going early on. They did just that in the first 7 overs making 42 in no time. Faf du Plesis dropped a simple chance off Mohammad Hafeez. Jamshed departed next ball edging one to Graeme Smith in the the eighth over.

Hafeez was the next man to go being run out after backing up a long way. Younis Khan played a straight drive which touched Kleinveldt's finger on the way to the stumps.

The required run rate kept climbing higher as Shafiq departed trying to hook the ball. Younus Khan stuttered to 30 off 51 balls before edging one behind. Misbah resisted slightly making 38 off 44 deliveries before being caught to a legside delivery.

Kamran Akmal soon followed continuing his dismal run of form with the bat. Shoaib Malik was the next to go trying to cut the ball. Afridi played a brief entertaining cameo of 34 in 19 balls but ran out of partners at the other end.

Fall of Wickets
1-42 (Nasir Jamshed, 7.1 ov)
2-52 (Mohammad Hafeez, 11.2 ov)
3-65 (Asad Shafiq, 15.6 ov)
4-114 (Younis Khan, 25.4 ov)
5-135 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 28.5 ov)
6-148 (Kamran Akmal, 31.5 ov)
7-165 (Shoaib Malik, 33.5 ov)
8-178 (Umar Gul, 34.4 ov)
9-178 (Saeed Ajmal, 34.5 ov)
10-190 (Shahid Afridi, 36.2 ov)

Summary

Pakistan started their bowling innings well but let themselves down in the field. South Africa managed to take control of the middle innings and made sure they milked the spinners. They set up a base for the end and made a flurry of runs in the end to get themselves to a high total.

Pakistan's innings started promisingly but struggled after Jamshed departed. With no batsmen in the middle order making a real impact the required run rate kept at an unsustainable rate till Pakistan succumbed to defeat.

LATEST POLL

Exclusive Interviews

Pakistan Slide to Abject Defeat in First ODI against South Africa

Discuss!

Total Votes:
First Vote:
Last Vote: