Imam, Hafeez steer Pakistan to victory over South Africa
PORTELIZABETH: Imam-ul-haq and Mohammad Hafeez set up a fivewicket win for Pakistan in the first one-day i nternational against South Africa at St George’s Park on Saturday.
The left-handed Imam made 86 off 101 balls and Hafeez hit an unbeaten 71 off 63 deliveries as Pakistan chased down a target of 267 with five balls to spare.
Hashim Amla’s 27th one-day international century was not enough for South Africa, who lost only two wickets in scoring 266 runs after winning the toss.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed used his bowlers in short spells and their mixture of seam and spin proved better suited to a slow pitch than South Africa’s attack. On the other hand, South African strike bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier conceded a combined 124 runs in 19.1 overs. Pakistan batsmen also proved better at rotating the strike. Amla (108 not out) and new cap Hendrick ‘Rassie’ van der Dussen (93) put on 155 for South Africa’s second wicket but although they gradually increased the tempo of their partnership they were unable to dominate the bowling.
“Those two guys batted really well but there were probably 15 or 20 more runs that we could have scored if we had pushed a bit harder,” said South African captain Faf du Plessis.
Seamer Hasan Ali and legspinner Shadab Khan were the best Pakistan bowlers and the only two who bowled their full quota of ten overs, taking one for 42 and one for 41 respectively.
Pakistan looked to be cruising to an easy win until Imam was dismissed in the 37th over when he stepped out of his crease and sliced to deep cover. Two more wickets fell cheaply before Hafeez and Shadab saw their side home, maintaining an unbeaten record for Pakistan in five one-day matches in Port Elizabeth, four of them against South Africa.
223-4 49.5 49.5 48.4 44.3 Abu Dhabi Dubai Durban Faisalabad 2010 2010 2013 1994
H. Amla 108*, H. van der Dussen 93) v Pakistan
Imam-ul-haq 86, Mohammad Hafeez 71 not out)