FAISALABAD: A collective effort from the bowlers helped Pakistan bowl out South Africa for a below-par total in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the Iqbal Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s newly-appointed captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, won the toss and put the visitors into bat. His decision proved beneficial as the Proteas could only manage 263 before being bowled out in 49.1 overs.
South Africa, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as their openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock registered a 98-run stand.
Saim Ayub provided the home side with a much-needed breakthrough in the 16th over, dismissing Pretorius, who made a 60-ball 57, laced with seven fours and a six.
De Kock was then involved in a brief 43-run partnership for the second with Tony de Zorzi before both perished in the span of six deliveries, bringing the total down to 147/3 in 27.4 overs.
The 32-year-old opener remained the top-scorer for South Africa with 63 off 71 deliveries with the help of six fours and two sixes.
Following the back-to-back setbacks, skipper Matthew Breetzke and debutant Sinethemba Qeshile (22) briefly stabilised South Africa’s batting charge with a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Mohammad Nawaz denied the visitors a comeback by dismissing the latter in the 34th over.
Qeshile’s dismissal sparked a match-defining collapse, which saw South Africa lose four more wickets – including that of their captain Breetzke – and consequently slipped to 228/8 in 43.2 overs.
Breetzke made a notable contribution to South Africa’s total with a 54-ball 42, featuring two sixes and as many fours.
All-rounder Corbin Bosch then added valuable runs at the backend for the touring side with a gutsy 41 off 40 deliveries before falling victim to skipper Shaheen in the penultimate over.
Abrar Ahmed and Naseem jointly led Pakistan’s bowling charge with three wickets each, followed by Saim with two, while Nawaz and Shaheen chipped in with one apiece.
