South Africa cruised to a massive 164 run victory over Pakistan in the first MTN one-day international (ODI) at a packed Supersport Park on Sunday.
Pakistan won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat. The Proteas made the most of an ideal batting strip and notched up a huge total of 392 for six in their 50 overs. It was their third highest total, after the 438 against Australia and the 418 against Zimbabwe in 2006.
Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers got South Africa off to a rollicking start with a partnership of 140. Smith -‒ playing in his 100th limited overs match — reached his 21st ODI 50 off 38 balls, while De Villiers needed 78 deliveries to get to his fourth. Their hundred partnership came off 103 balls.
With the power plays out of the way, Inzamam ul-Haq introduced his spinners, and Mohammad Hafeez responded with two wickets in his first over. Smith charged down the pitch to the spinner, only to be stumped by Kamran Akmal for 72, and Akmal caught Loots Bosman for four three balls later. De Villiers went soon after, caught by Rana off Shahid Afridi for 67.
Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince put on 68 runs together for the fourth wicket before Prince was caught by Razzaq off Afridi for 39.
Mark Boucher strode to the crease and proceeded to demolish the Pakistan attack, ably supported by Kallis, whose 58th ODI 50 came up off 69 balls.
Boucher raced to his 21st half century off 27 balls. Their hundred partnership came off 56 balls and included nine boundaries and five sixes.
When Boucher was caught by Inzamam Ul-Haqoff Rana for 78 off 38 deliveries, their fifth wicket partnership was worth 128 runs.
Kallis ended not out on 88 off 85 balls.
Afridi was the most successful bowler, with two for 42.
Pakistan, chasing 393, set about their tasks with a will, but lost wickets at regular intervals. Makhaya Ntini made the first breakthrough when Mohammad Hafeez was caught by Smith for 21 in the fourth over, and although Pakistan were making runs quickly, the wickets kept tumbling. Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam put on 49 runs for the sixth wicket, but when Yousuf was caught by Smith off Andre Nel for 39, the stuffing went out of Pakistan, and any excitement went out of the match.
Inzamam fell three balls later, caught by substitute Andrew Hall off Kallis for 15, and after that, a massive South African victory was a foregone conclusion.
Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami got in some valuable batting practice with a ninth wicket partnership of 73 off 122 balls before Sami was caught by Boucher off Robin Peterson for 46. By that stage, with the match over as a contest, spectators had begun streaming out of the ground and it was a vastly diminished crowd
that saw South Africa bowled Pakistan out for Malik reached his 20th ODI 50 off 82 balls, and ended undefeated on 52 –Pakistan’s top score. Smith used a variety of bowlers, including himself and Prince, and fittingly, he took the final wicket when Asif was caught by Prince for two.
The South African bowling was tight and disciplined, and their fielding was superb. Whereas Pakistan conceded 31 extras, South Africa conceded only four. Kallis was the most successful bowler, with three for 34, and Ntini took three for 51.
”It was very disappointing, after winning the toss, to have to chase such a huge total,” said Inzamam. ”We could have chased 280 or 300, but 390 was just too much. There was also poor discipline in both departments -‒ batting and bowling. We also conceded too many no balls and wides.”
Man of the match Kallis said South Africa were very pleased with the way they had played.
”We were very positive and we put pressure on Pakistan right from the beginning. The most pleasing aspect of our innings was the start. We haven’t got off to good starts in recent games, but when you get off to a start like that, and you’ve got fire power down the order like we have, it builds a platform for those guys, and we can chase some big scores.” Kallis said the Proteas were not concerned that they had not been able get the last two wickets more
easily.
”The game was won, and the guys relax a bit. We’re not worried about that.”
He said South Africa’s first goal was to wrap up the series, and then they might experiment a bit with players and different combinations.
”We want to win the series, and then we’ll look ahead to the World Cup,” said Kallis. – Sapa