A century by Babar Azam arrange a three-wicket, last-ball win for Pakistan within the first one-day worldwide in opposition to South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday. The Pakistan captain hit a stroke-filled 103 off 104 balls and shared a second-wicket partnership of 177 with Imam-ul-Haq, who made 70. However Babar’s dismissal began a collapse during which quick bowler Anrich Nortje took 4 wickets in 4 overs. From 186 for one, with greater than 18 overs in hand to achieve a goal of 274, Pakistan slumped to 203 for 5 earlier than Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan steadied the innings once more in a sixth-wicket stand of 53. However each had been dismissed earlier than Faheem Ashraf hit the successful run off Andile Phehlukwayo off the final ball.
“There was just a little little bit of stress however we are going to be taught from that,” Babar stated by way of an interpreter on the after-match presentation.
Babar, who was named man of the match, praised his bowlers, who got here inside three runs of attaining his goal of limiting South Africa to a complete of round 270 after he received the toss and despatched them in.
“I informed them to bowl arduous lengths and there was some swing as effectively,” he stated.
“They took wickets within the energy play and that helped us.”
Rassie van der Dussen needed to carry out a rescue act for South Africa after the hosts struggled to 55 for 4 inside 15 overs.
He hit 123 not out, his maiden worldwide century, to allow South Africa to attain 273 for six.
South African captain Temba Bavuma admitted the lack of early wickets disrupted South Africa’s aggressive intent.
“We did not assist ourselves with our batting effort within the first ten overs,” he stated.
The win gave Pakistan an necessary benefit within the three-match collection, with South Africa set to lose 5 key gamers to the Indian Premier League after Sunday’s second match in Johannesburg.
Nortje, a kind of who will depart for India, conceded 31 runs in his first spell of 5 overs however got here again strongly, dismissing Babar and Imam in successive overs earlier than having new cap Danish Aziz caught behind off a vicious, lifting supply.
When Asif Ali was caught off a top-edged pull, South Africa had been proper again within the recreation. Nortje completed with 4 for 51.
Rizwan, who was man of the collection in each Assessments and Twenty20 clashes in opposition to South Africa in Pakistan earlier within the 12 months, once more confirmed a peaceful temperament as he and Shadab took their facet near victory.
However Rizwan and Shadab each perished to over-ambitious photographs in opposition to the medium-paced Phehlukwayo because the match went all the way down to the final ball.
Van der Dussen and David Miller (50) revived South Africa’s innings earlier with a fourth-wicket stand of 116.
Van der Dussen and Phehlukwayo (29) then added 64 for the sixth wicket.
Promoted
The 32-year-old Van der Dussen had been dismissed 3 times within the nineties – twice in one-day internationals and as soon as in a Take a look at match – since making his debut two seasons in the past.
He took 80 balls to achieve his fifty however lifted the tempo of his innings to complete with ten fours and two sixes off 134 balls.
