Who won Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI today? — Match result & turning points
Pakistan made things difficult for themselves towards the end of the first ODI against South Africa, but they eventually chased down a 264-run target in 49.4
overs with two wickets to spare.
Shaheen Afridi, captaining Pakistan for the first time in ODI cricket, won the toss and opted to field first at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Tuesday, November 4. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock batted with intent and added 98 runs in 16 overs. The former was dismissed by Saim Ayub for a 60-ball 57. De Kock and Tony de Zorzi also stitched a decent partnership before the former was out for 63 (71).
De Zorzi and Sinethemba Qeshile got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. Stand-in skipper Matthew Breetzke played an important 42-run knock off 54 balls before Corbin Bosch's 40-ball 41 helped the Proteas set a target of 264. The tourists were bowled out in 49.1 overs, with Naseem Shah starring with a three-for.
In reply, Fakhar Zaman and Ayub negotiated the swing inside the powerplay commendably. Their 87-run partnership was eventually broken in the 16th over by Donovan Ferreira. Ayub walked back to the hut after scoring a 42-ball 39. Zaman faced 57 balls for his 45. Both openers were dismissed in quick succession.
The talismanic Babar Azam was dismissed cheaply, and the duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha used their experience to keep the scoreboard ticking. Rizwan (55) and Agha (62) added a 91-run partnership off 111 balls through the middle overs.
Rizwan departed for a sedate but important 55 off 74 balls. Agha continued with his proactive batting and scored a 71-ball 62. Between their wickets, Pakistan had lost Hussain Talat and Hasan Nawaz' wickets. When Pakistan lost their eighth wicket, they just needed one run to win with three balls left. The match-winning run came with a leg bye from Corbin Bosch. The hosts won the match by two wickets with as many balls to spare.
Top batting performances of the match — Salman Agha
While there was a decent amount of turn for the spinners, Salman Agha mixed caution with aggression and finished on 62 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and one six. He was the more aggressive batter in the partnership with Mohammad Rizwan.
Best bowling spells — Naseem Shah
Naseem Shah was in fine form during the match. He used the conditions to good effect and finished with figures of 3/40 in 9.1 overs despite not picking up a wicket with the new ball. Naseem's death bowling display was brilliant.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
Shaheen started his reign as ODI captain with a win. This was also the first successive Asia Cup win for South Africa in ODIs. The Women in Blue also registered the highest successful chase at Faisalabad in ODIs. Pakistan also won their fifth consecutive encounter against South Africa in ODIs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
On expected lines, Salman Agha won the Player of the Match award. He scored a gritty 62 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and one six. Agha helped Pakistan to have momentum in their innings, hitting timely boundaries.
What is the next match?
The second ODI between Pakistan and South Africa will once again be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Thursday, November 6.
