Pakistan win first ODI
20 January, 2019
Hashim Amla hit his 27th one-day international century but his effort went in vain as Pakistan won the first ODI by five wickets at St George's Park on Saturday.
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq scored a 101-ball 86-run and Mohammad Hafeez remained unbeaten for 71 to see as Pakistan reached the 267-run target with five balls to spare.
Amla (108 not out) shared a second-wicket partnership of 155 with debutant Rassie van der Dussen (93) but the pair were unable to dominate against steady bowling on a slow pitch.
Although Pakistan were only able to claim two wickets, they bowled well on a windy day, with captain Sarfraz Ahmed juggling his bowlers in short spells.
Scoring was slow during the middle overs with seamer Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowling particularly well. They took one for 42 and one for 41 respectively in their ten overs.
Amla and Reeza Hendricks (45) put on 82 off 105 balls for the first wicket before Van der Dussen made a slow start in his first one-day international, taking ten balls to score his first run.
But the scoring rate picked up and Van der Dussen hit six fours and three sixes in a 101-ball innings. Amla made his runs off 120 balls with seven fours and a six.
Pakistan
SOUTH AFRICA: 266 for 2 in 50 overs (Amla 108 not out, Hendricks 45, Van der Dussen 93; Hasan 1-42, Shadab 1-41)
PAKISTAN: 267-5 in 49.1 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 86, Babar 49, Hafeez 71 not out, Shadab 18 not out; Olivier 2-73)
Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets.
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