A disappointing end to the 1st T20I in Johannesburg as persistent rain halted Pakistan's run chase and gave South Africa a 1-0 lead.

by Pakpassion Staff (20th November 2013)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.

Teams:

Pakistan: 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Sohaib Maqsood, 5 Umar Amin, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Bilawal Bhatti, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Anwar Ali

South Africa:1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 JP Duminy, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 Faf du Plessis, 6 David Miller, 7 Henry Davids, 8 Dale Steyn, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Imran Tahir 
 

With the memories of a 2-0 whitewash in the UAE fresh in the minds of Pakistan, it was always going to be a test of their resolve to try and battle their way in the first game at Johannesburg. Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali were drafted in a fresh Pakistan side, with Saeed Ajmal also rested. 

South Africa appeared to start off where they left in Dubai, with de Kock and Amla opening for South Africa. Although there was a tinge of green on the pitch, the South Africans found it easy to take on the Pakistani opening attack of Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir. With 41 runs coming up in first 10 overs, Pakistan were looking desperate in the field and Junaid Khan was brought in to change fortunes for the visitors but 3 fours later South Africa crossed the 50 mark in the 5th over. 

The Captain then decided to bring himself on. With the failure of the pace bowlers, it was always going to be up to the spinners to bring things under control and he did not disappoint as Amla was “yorked” by Hafeez for 36. Hafeez struck again – this time removing the dangerous looking de Kock. Shahid Afridi came on next and picked up Davids in his 2nd over. With Duminy new to the crease and du Plessis still finding his feet, Pakistan were able to exert some kind of control on a game that was running out of control only a few overs ago. 

With the introduction of spinners the Proteas were clearly under pressure in terms of scoring runs – the pressure making its presence felt as Bilawal Bhatti who had impressed in his first spell came back and removed Duminy. From the other end Junaid Khan came into bowl and removed Plessis just as the South African captain looked to accelerate. However, it was left to Miller with 19 off 11 balls to help his team to 153/7 – a target which Pakistan given their recent batting form would struggle to attain.


Fall Of Wickets

1-72 Amla, 7.5 ov 
2-81 de Kock, 9.4 ov 
3-87 Davids, 10.6 ov 
4-110 Duminy, 15.4 ov 
5-116 du Plessis, 16.3 ov 
6-134 Parnell, 17.6 ov 
7-140 Steyn, 18.6 ov
 

Pakistan started the chase confidently, with Shehzad collecting two boundaries off the second over, bowled by Dale Steyn. The first was a flick off the pads, the second a cut as Steyn dropped short. The opening partnership was broken with the score on 18, as Shehzad (9) played on as he tried to run the ball down to third man in the third over, bowled by Tsotsobe. 

Hafeez came out to bat and faced nemesis Steyn in the fourth over. A full delivery by Steyn, trying to search out Hafeez' front pad, was met with an angled bat and Hafeez collected four through mid-on. The shot epitomised the vibrancy in the Pakistan approach today. Jamshed was looking a little more settled at the crease, and pulled Morkel for four in the final Powerplay over. He ended the over with a streaky four. Pakistan were 40/1 at the end of the PowerPlay. 

Jamshed continued to ride his luck, with a edge over the wicket-keeper's head and and four byes, again past the keeper. The next over was bowled by JP Duminy who, in line with previous matches against Pakistan, picked up a wicket early in his spell - Jamshed's fortuitous innings coming to an end after he drove back to the bowler for 18(25), leaving Pakistan 51/2 at the end of the 8th over, with Umar Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez at the crease. 

Imran Tahir was introduced in the 9th over, and Umar Akmal played a delicious late cut for four. 

The rain came down in the 10th over and it was heavy enough to prevent any further play being possible, with Pakistan five runs short of the Duckworth-Lewis target. 

Fall Of wickets
1-18 Ahmed Shehzad, 2.3 ov
2-50 Nasir Jamshed, 7.3 ov

 

A confident showing by Pakistan, both in the field and with the bat. The away side were in charge for all but the opening stand for South Africa, but better planning could have avoided a narrow loss.

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