Pakistan vs South Africa 1st T20: Proteas prevail as Pakistan spin in rain

A surprise bowling change brought a key wicket and was a crucial factor as South Africa beat Pakistan in a rain-affected first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.

Shortly before a storm broke over the stadium, South African captain Faf du Plessis called up JP Duminy to bowl his off-spinners, and Duminy caught Nasir Jamshed off his own bowling with his third delivery.

Only ten more deliveries were possible before play was halted. Pakistan were 60 for two after 9.1 overs, four runs short of a revised par score after South Africa made 153 for seven in their 20 overs. Jamshed's wicket meant that the target was pushed just out of Pakistan's reach.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Amla was bowled by Pakistan captain and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 31 off 20 balls.

De Kock made 43 off 33 deliveries before he was well caught at long-on by Sohail Tanvir off Hafeez.

A third wicket fell to slow bowling in the space of 15 runs when Shahid Afridi bowled Henry Davids for three.

The success of the slower men made it puzzling that Pakistan made a late switch in their team, leaving out their world-class off-spinner Saeed Ajmal at the last minute, causing a delay in the toss.

With play starting 25 minutes late following a thunderstorm, Hafeez said it was the first time he had seen the pitch.

Ajmal was in the team list handed to the media before the toss but it transpired the change was made as a result of seeing a pitch expected to favour fast bowlers.

Junaid Khan, not originally named, took the field instead of Ajmal after Hafeez sent South Africa in.

Hafeez and Afridi took three wickets between them for 39 in their combined eight overs as the South African innings lost momentum.

South Africa's defence of their total started badly when Lonwabo Tsotsobe's first deliveries were called wide, with one going for an extra four runs. But Tsotsobe came back strongly and bowled Ahmed Shehzad for nine in an unbroken four-over spell of one for 19.

Shehzad and Hafeez put on 32 and Pakistan looked well placed before they were thwarted by Duminy and the rain.

South Africa won both Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates last week before the teams travelled to South Africa for a hastily-arranged reciprocal series. A second and final game will be played in Cape Town on Friday before the teams clash in three one-day internationals.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

South Africa have been declared winners by four runs under the D/L method after heavy rain caused a stoppage and made resumption of play impossible.

Pakistan are four runs behind the D/L par score of 65 after 10 over.

If play does not resume, South Africa will win.

Rain has caused a suspension of play with Pakistan 60-2 after 9.1 overs.

Akmal gets a boundary off the first over from Tahir cutting him past third man. Pak 59-2 in 9 overs.

Duminy strikes with his third delivery as Jamshed chips a return catch. Pak 50-2 in 7.3 overs.    

Nasir Jamshed c and b Duminy 18 (25b 3x4 0x6)

Jamshed swings Tsotsobe past the keeper for a streaky boundary. Pak 49-1 in 7 overs.

Jamshed hits his first boundary after facing 16 balls pulling Morkel to square leg, survives being caught behind next ball before getting another boundary. Pak 40-1 in 6 overs.

Hafeez drives Steyn through mid-off for a boundary. Pak 27-1 in 4 overs.

Tsotsobe draws first blood bowling Shehzad off an inside edge. Pak 18-1 in 2.3 overs.    

Ahmed Shehzad b Tsotsobe 9 (9b 2x4 0x6)

Shehzad gets a couple of boundaries off Steyn flicking to backward square and crashing him through point. Pak 17-0 in 2 overs.

Tsotsobe opens with a couple of wides as Pakistan begin their run-chase. Pak 9-0 in 1 over.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

South Africa made 153-7 in 20 overs after Pakistan fought back in the middle overs to restrict the hosts.

Having been put into bat, openers Quinton de Kock (43) and Amla (31) posted 72 in eight overs before they stumbled against spinners Hafeez and Afridi who claimed two wickets apiece.

Miller's cameo of 19 off 11 balls with two boundaries and a six lifted them past 150 along with some lusty blows from Morkel who slammed consecutive boundaries off the final over from Tanvir.

Miller slams a boundary off Junaid going inside out while Steyn falls a superb catch by substitute in the deep. SA 140-7 in 19 overs.

Dale Steyn c sub b Junaid Khan 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Parnell is run out going for a third. SA 134-6 in 18 overs.    

Wayne Parnell run out 6 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Miller hammers a six and boundary off consecutive balls from Bhatti as South Africa look to reach 150.

Faf du Plessis hammers a boundary but is out next ball slamming Junaid Khan straight down throat of Maqsood at midoff. SA 116-4 in 16.3 overs.

Faf du Plessis c Sohaib Maqsood b Junaid Khan 22 (22b 1x4 0x6)

Hafeez takes a brilliant diving catch at mid-on as Duminy becomes Bhatti's first interantional scalp. SA 110-4 in 15.4 overs.    

JP Duminy c Mohammad Hafeez b Bilawal Bhatti 11 (16b 1x4 0x6)

The Pakistan spinners have put a skid on the South Africa scoring as Afridi finishes an excellent spell with figures of 4-0-14-1. SA 107-3 in 15 overs.

Duminy flicks Bhatti off his pads to the square leg fence for a boundary. SA 93-3 in 12 overs.

Afridi strikes beating Davids with a ball that skids through to rattle his stumps. SA 87-3 in 11 overs.    

Henry Davids b Shahid Afridi 3 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Quinton's wonderful knocks comes to an end with Tanvir taking a well-judged catch on the fence after having slammed Hafeez down the ground off the previous ball. SA 81-2 in 9.4 overs.    

Quinton de Kock c Sohail Tanvir b Mohammad Hafeez 43 (33b 8x4 0x6)

Hafeez gets the breakthrough yorking Amla knocking back his off stump. SA 72-1 in 7.5 overs.    

Hashim Amla b Mohammad Hafeez 31 (20b 6x4 0x6)

Quinton de Kock gets a streaky boundary off debutant Bhatti as South Africa continue to maintain the momentum. SA 69-0 in 7 overs.

Hafeez tries to contain the South African charge but Amla unleashes a classic cover drive for another boundary. SA 60-0 in 6 overs.

Quinton de Kock is continuing from where he left off in the UAE flaying the Pakistan attack slamming three boundaries off the first over from Junaid Khan. SA 53-0 in 5 overs.

Poor bowling by Pakistan with Amla feasting on leg stump deliveries to flick Anwar to the fence in consecutive balls while Quinton clubs him down the ground for another boundary. SA 41-0 in 4 overs.

Anwar goes for 13 in his second over with Quinton de Kock whipping him from outside off to the miwicket fence. SA 26-0 in 3 overs.

Amla cracks Anwar through point and extra cover for a couple of delightful boundaries.

Amla also opens his account by flicking Anwar off his pads for a boundary to fine leg as South Africa get going. SA 9-0 in 1 over.

Quinton de Kock cracks the second ball of the match from Anwar Ali through the covers for the first boundary of the match.

Bilawal Bhatti is making his debut for Pakistan who have only 13 players to choose from with Malik and Razzaq returning home because of injury.

PLAYING XI

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinto de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Henry Davids, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir
   
Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali

Hafeez has won the toss and Pakistan have opted to bowl with no reduction in overs despite the delayed start because of rain and a wet outfield.

The good news filtering from the venue is that the rain has ceased and the covers are coming off.

Heavy rain has caused a delay in the start of first Twenty20 international between South Africa and Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Pakistan recall injured Razzaq, Malik from SA tour

Pakistan Tuesday withdrew all-rounders Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq from their limited-overs tour of South Africa after both suffered injuries.

The injuries are a blow to the visitors, who play the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The second T20 will be in Cape Town on Friday.

Pakistan will also play three one-day internationals on November 24, 27 and 30.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed both players were returning home immediately.

"The decision was taken by the tour selection committee after consultation with the team's doctor and a South African doctor," it said in a statement.

Razzaq, 33, suffered a severe hamstring injury while training on Sunday, while 31-year-old Malik was said to have exacerbated a hand injury.

The tour selection committee has not asked for replacements, the board said.

Malik injured his hand during the second Twenty20 in Dubai last Friday, in which Pakistan were defeated by six runs to lose the two-match series 2-0.

Malik managed to score 15 and 12 in the two matches in Dubai while Razzaq managed ten and 0.
One-day skipper Misbah-ul Haq and Asad Shafiq will join the squad later Tuesday.
 

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