Pakistan fight back to choke South Africa in 1st ODI

Pakistan pulled off a spectacular 23-run victory over South Africa with 11 balls to spare in the first one-day international at Cape Town on Sunday to take a 1-0 ead in the three-match series.

Chasing a target of 219, South Africa appeared to be coasting at one stage but Pakistan fought back tenaciously with the spin trio of Hafeez, Afridi and Ajmal throttling their run chase.

Kallis (50) and Duminy (49) kept them in the hunt but from a comfortable 115-4 in the 26th they stumbled losing their last six wickets for 80 runs.

Debutant Bilawal claimed three for 37 but Ajmal had the excellent figures of 10-0-28-2.

Newcomers Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti put together a match-winning partnership and shared in five wickets as Pakistan beat South Africa by 23 runs in the first one-day international at Newlands on Sunday.

The two bowlers, making their ODI debuts, put on 74 runs for the eighth wicket to take Pakistan to a respectable 218 for nine off their 50 overs before bowling out South Africa for 195 in their second-last over.

Pakistan take the lead in the three-match series after losing 4-1 to South Africa earlier this month in a five-match ODI series in the United Arab Emirates.

Man of the match Ali produced a swashbuckling 43 to remain unbeaten at the end of the innings while Bhatti added a valuable 39 as they took Pakistan from 131 for seven to a defendable total.

"I was really happy with the effort of the two debutants, they really won the game for us," said captain Misbah-ul-Haq at the post-match presentation. "They gave us some hope to take us past 200."

Jacques Kallis scored 50 on his return to the one-day international arena after an absence of almost two years, but early wickets kept tumbling about him as South Africa struggled in their reply before eventually being bowled after 48.1 overs.

A perfect yorker from Bhatti bowled Morne Morkel for the last wicket to give the paceman figures of 3-37. Ali bowled Kallis as he took 2-24.

The next match is in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

Debutant Bilawal Bhatti bowls a perfect yorker to Morkel as South Africa are all out for 195 in 48.1 overs.    

Morne Morkel b Bilawal Bhatti 17 (18b 1x4 1x6)

South Africa are 195-9 in 48 overs requiring 24 from 12 balls with last pair Morkel and Tahir in the middle.

Steyn hits a lovely boundary through cover but is yorked off the final delivery of the 47th over. SA 192-9 requiring 27 from 18 balls.

Dale Steyn b Bilawal Bhatti 15 (32b 1x4 1x6)

Ajmal completes his spell returning figures of 10-0-28-2.

Steyn hoists Ajmal for a massive six over midwicket. SA 187-8 in 46 overs requiring 32 from 24 balls.

South Africa are 181-8 in 45 overs needing 38 from 30 balls.

Morkel hits the first ball he faced from Ajmal for a straight six. SA 175-8 in 44 overs requiring 44 from 36 balls.

Ajmal strikes another crucial blow as Duminy is caught behind attempting a reverse sweep. SA 168-8 in 43.1 overs.    

JP Duminy c Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 49 (70b 4x4 0x6)

South Africa are 168-7 in 43 over requiring 51 off 42 balls.

Duminy drives Afridi through mid off for a much needed boundary for South Africa who need 53 off 48 balls. SA 166-7 in 42 overs.

South Africa are 161-7 after 41 overs needin 58 off 56 balls.

South Africa managed just 17 for the loss of Philander the Batting Powerplay and need 62 off 60 balls. SA 157-7 in 40 overs.

Ajmal strikes a crucial blow as Philander slices to Maqsood who takes a brilliant catch at backward point. SA 155-7 in 37.4 overs

Vernon Philander c Sohaib Maqsood b Saeed Ajmal 14 (26b 2x4 0x6)

Ajmal returns with South Africa needing 66 from 13 overs.

Duminy and Philander smash a boundary apiece off Bilawal's over. SA 149-6 in 36 overs.

South Africa need 79 runs from 15 overs with four wickets in hand as the Batting Powerplay begins.

Philander opens his account with a boundary off Anwar Ali but South Africa have stumbled to 127-6 in 30 overs.

Anwar Ali strikes again having Miller caught behind. SA 123-6 in 29.4 overs.    

David Miller c Umar Akmal b Anwar Ali 4 (14b 0x4 0x6)

Miller survives a confident shout for leg before off Hafeez with Pakistan being unsuccessful in overturning the verdict. SA 122-5 in 29 overs.

Kallis punches Anwar Ali who returns for a new spell through point for a boundary and complete his half century with a single but is stunned by a yorker length delivery in the same over. SA 115-5 in 25.4 overs.

Jacques Kallis b Anwar Ali 50 (71b 5x4 1x6) S

Duminy cracks a couple of boundaries off Afridi with a lovely late cut and cover drive. SA 106-4 in 24 overs.

Afridi does the trick again rattling the stumps of AB de Villiers with his second delivery to put Pakistan right back in the game. SA 79-4 in 17.2 overs.    

AB de Villiers b Shahid Afridi 10 (15b 1x4 0x6)

AB de Villiers hits his first boundary giving Bilawal the charge and pushing him through mid-on. SA 71-3 in 15 overs as drinks are taken.

Bilawal has the last laugh castling Quinton. SA 62-3 in 12.1 overs.

Quinton de Kock b Bilawal Bhatti 19 (24b 3x4 0x6)

Quinton de Kock smashes a short ball from Bilawal to the midwicket fence. SA 58-2 in 11 overs.

Ajmal concedes only a single in the final Powerplay over but South Africa have made a sound start despite losing both openers. SA 52-2 in 10 overs.

Kallis helps himself to another boundary this time off Bilawal through point. SA 51-2 in 9 overs.

Kallis gets into the act whipping Junaid through midwicket and extra cover for consecutive boundaries followed by another off the final ball. SA 37-2 in 7 overs.

Quinton de Kock gives Hafeez the charge and whips him through midwicket for a boundary. SA 25-2 in 6 overs.

Smith cuts the first ball from spinner Hafeez for a boundary. But Hafeez has the last laugh as Smith is stumped playing a wild shot. SA 20-2 in 3.5 overs.

Graeme Smith st Umar Akmal b Mohammad Hafeez 12 (16b 2x4 0x6)

Junaid draws first blood knocking over Amla who goes far across his stumps. SA 12-1 in 2.2 overs.    

Hashim Amla b Junaid Khan 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Smith marks his return by clipping Junaid to the fine leg fence. SA 6-0 in 1 over.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Pakistan recovered to make 218 for nine in their 50 overs thanks to a 74-run stand for the eighth wicket between debutant Bilawal Bhatti (39) and Anwar Ali (43 not out).

Opting to bat first, Pakistan began slowly but steadily with openers Jamshed (24) and Shehzad (35) posting 49 in 15.2 overs.

But they lost wickets at regular intervals as their innings failed to gather any momentum before the tail wagged.

Bhatti smashed three boundaries and two sixes while Anwar cracked six boundaries.

Steyn claimed three for 33 and Morkel three for 39.

Morkel claims his third wicket. Pak 213-9 in 49.2 overs.

Saeed Ajmal c Duminy b Morkel 3 (10m 5b 0x4 0x6)

Steyn completes an excellent spell returning figures of 10-2-33-3. Pak 212-8 in 49 overs.

The partnership between Bilawal and Anwar for the eighth wicket yielded 74 runs in 11.4 overs.

Morkel strikes trapping Bilawal leg before after being hit for a boundary and a six. Pak 205-8 in 47.3 overs.

Bilawal Bhatti lbw b Morkel 39 (56m 25b 3x4 2x6)

Big over for Pakistan with Anwar Ali cracking three consecutive boundaries off Kallis. Pak 188-7 in 46 overs.

The Pakistan tail is wagging with the 50 partnership between Bilawal and Anwar Ali coming up in 61 balls.

Bilawal is playing a good hand for Pakistan smashing Kallis over midwicket for a six. Pak 173-7 in 44 overs.

Bhatti takes on Tahir slamming a couple of boundaries. Pak 156-7 in 41 overs.

Afridi slams a boundary off Steyn and is bowled next ball. Pak 131-7 in 35.5 overs.    

Shahid Afridi b Steyn 26 (23b 1x4 1x6)

Afridi slams Kallis for a towering six but when Maqsood falls attempting a similar shot holing out to Tahir. Pak 124-6 in 34.3 overs.     

Sohaib Maqsood c Imran Tahir b Kallis 22 (43b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan innings is in tatters now as Akmal departs caught behind off Philander. Pak 98-5 in 29.4 overs    

Umar Akmal c de Kock b Philander 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan are in deep trouble now as Misbah goes giving a catch behind off Morkel. Pak 97-4 in 29 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq c de Kock b Morkel 13 (24m 19b 1x4 0x6)

Misbah sweeps Tahir through midwicket for his first boundary. Pak 89-3 in 27 overs.

Kallis strikes in his second over as Shehzad is caught behind. Pak 73-3 in 23.3 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c de Kock b Kallis 35 (101m 70b 3x4 0x6)

Steyn bowls a maiden to Shehzad tightening the screws on Pakistan. Pak 67-2 in 20 overs.

Tahir comes into the attack and Shehzad slams his first delivery to the midwicket fence. Pak 67-2 in 19 overs.

Hafeez hits a lovely boundary off Duminy but falls to Steyn yet again slashing straight to Amla at first slip. Pak 58-2 in 17.3 overs.    

Mohammad Hafeez c Amla b Steyn 5 (12m 10b 1x4 0x6)

Steyn strikes with Jamshed slashing to Kallis at second slip. Pak 49-1 in 15.2 overs.

Nasir Jamshed c Kallis b Steyn 24 (46b 1x4 0x6)

Shehzad pulls a bouncer from Philander to the square leg fence. Pak 40-0 in 12 overs.

Jamshed survives as he swings Philander but Steyn running in from deep fine leg fails to hang onto the chance. Pak 40-0 in 12 overs.

Pakistan have got off to a slow yet steady start. Pak 31-0 in 10 overs.

Morkel takes over from Steyn and concedes just one run. Pak 18-0 in 7 overs.

Shehzad gets his first boundary flicking Philander past square leg. Pak 13-0 in 4 overs.

Jamshed hits the first boundary of the match slamming Steyn through midwicket. Pak 8-0 in 3 overs.

Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat in the first one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday.

Bilawal Bhatti makes his ODI for Pakistan while Umar Amin makes way for skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

Anwar Ali also replaces Sohail Tanvir.

For South Africa, Imran Tahir and Vernon Philander come in place of Aaron Phangiso and David Wiese.

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