Pakistan beat South Africa – Babar Azam scores 100: After a bit of late drama, Pakistan beat South Africa by three wickets in the first ODI at SuperSport Park in Centurion to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It was Babar Azam’s fantastic 103s and Imam ul Haq’s 70s that set up victory for the visitors after South Africa set a 274-run goal with Rassie van der Dussen scoring his first century ODI.
When asked to hit first, South Africa landed an early hit in the first ODI against Pakistan. In the eighth, the hosts lost three big wickets to Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma. But David Miller’s Half a Century and Rassie van der Dussen’s Maiden Century helped Proteas publish 273/6 in 50 overs.
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Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock started for South Africa. While the duo got off to a slow start, De Kock soon got back on track when he faced off against Shaheen Afridi. However, two wickets in one of Afridi put the hosts on the defensive. Both starters: Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock were fired in the seventh over. New pattern Temba Bavuma soon followed as he broke into the next over, leaving South Africa rattling at 43/3.
While Henrich Klassen and Rassie van der Dussen tried their bit, the former was sacked by Faheem Ashraf in 15th. Then Dussen and David Miller continued the act of rebuilding. The duo’s 116-run partnership for the fifth wicket helped South Africa stabilize the boat after the first few hits. Dussen lifted his first international century with 122 balls, while Miller was sent off for 50. In the end, South Africa recorded 273/6 in 50 overs.
Pakistan beat South Africa: During the chase, Pakistan lost an early spot at Fakhar Zaman which was eliminated by Kagiso Rabada in the third over. However, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and starter Imam ul Haq stabilized the boat with a position of 177 runs for the second wicket. Azam raised his century with only 103 balls.
However, Azam was the first of Anrich Nortje’s four quick victims. What seemed like a simple chase became more difficult as Nortje’s pace shook Pakistan’s middle order. From 186/1 in 31.4 overs, Pakistan dropped to 203/5 in 38 overs.
While the match turned in South Africa’s favor, Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan ensured that Pakistan won the match after a late drama with a Dussen knockdown catch and a free throw in the penultimate over.
/ 7 (50 ovs) to win by 3 wickets
/ 6 (50 ovs)
SA vs PAK: Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (w), Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf
South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Also read: South Africa vs Pakistan ODI series: SA vs PAK Full schedule, full squads, live stream, date, time, locations – everything you need to know
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