After winning the toss on a surface which would help bowlers, Misbah Ul haq elected to bat First in Cape Town against South Africa. South Africa’s speedsters Steyn and Philander were good at the start talking important wickets and later joined the others to rest Pakistan to a rock bottom total of 218-9 in their 50 overs. South Africa in reply made a blunder in batting by getting 195 and loosing all the wickets and lost by 25 runs. Credit to the Pakistani bowlers who bowled really well to defend such a low target.
First Innings:
Pakistan batsmen were conscious on good start as they saw of the new ball without loosing any wickets and scored 31 of the 1st 10 overs . It looked as though the openers were looking good for a high score but it didn’t happen neither as Nasir Jamshed gave his wicket away when he was on 24(46) . Many expectations was on Hafeez and every Pakistani fan would have hoped him to do well but he disappointed everyone by getting out to Steyn (Steyn has dismissed Hafeez 14 times in International cricket including this). From there wickets started to stumble for Pakistan the set batsman Ahmed Shehzad departed for a well played 35(70) smacking 3 fours .Kallis bowled a real good spell in between but went wicketless .
Morne Morkel chipped in with another main wicket of Misbah. Umar Akmal was the main in form too served his wicket to Philander hurting Pakistan more .Once Pakistan were in a comfortable position scoring 48-0 ( 15 Overs ) but later after 30 overs they were 100-5.The Boom Boom Afridi and Maqsood tried to put on a partnership which was cut down by Kallis who tookthe wicket of Maqsood adding 2 to his account . Afridi also made a walk back to the Pavilion after making 23 of 26 balls with a strike rate of 113.04.It looked as though Pakistan were going no were but the 2 debutants Anwar Ali and Bhatti make a mockery of South Africa’s bowling making a much needed 60+ partnership before bhatti getting out on 39 of 25 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Anwar finished with 43(55)* not out and getting pakistan to a defendable target.
Second Innings :
With not a huge total to chase South Africa’s Amla and Smith opened the innings forcing De cock to play down the order. There was an early upset in the innings for South African as they lost the World’s best ODI player Hashim Amla for just 3 runs and that credit goes to Junaid Khan for bowling really well at the start to get rid of him. Playing De Cock at 3 didn’t help them neither as he gave his wicket away to the Debutant Bhatti. There was buzz when Hafeez came to bowl very early in the innings but that was a master plan, Hafeez took the wicket of Smith with the help of Keeper Akmal. At this time they needed some to play throughout the innings .With some promises Kallis started his innings and started to hammer the bowlers but he did not any support from the other side as Ab de Villiers departed after Afridi rattled the stumps through his defence.
After 18 overs South Africa was 79/4 and JP Duminy came in. Kallis along with Duminy started to build a partnership and steadied the ship to some extent but Kallis after getting to his half century threw his wicket away to give a wicket to another debutant Anwar. After that there wasn’t too much to cherish about as Miller got out to Anwar Ali.Duminy Stayed with the tale and got it close but saeed Ajmal bowled beautiful delivery to get rid of him and that made south Africa’s chase nearly done . In the end the new comer Bhatti finished the innings off taking the wicket of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn and adding 3 to his accounts .
After taking the wicket of Ab de villiers
Man of the match :
Man of the match was given to Anwar Ali for his allround performance ( Scored 43(54)* and 2 wickets).
With this win, Pakistan go one up in the 3 match ODI series.
