Debutants help Pakistan beat South Africa in first ODI

CAPE TOWN: The allround performances by debutants – Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali – guided Pakistan to defeat South Africa by 23 runs in the first One-day International here at the Newlands on Sunday.

Bilawal made 39, the second highest score in the innings and later captured three wickets for 37 while Anwar Ali, who batted at number ten, top scored with an unbeaten 43 and then claimed two wickets for 24 runs to a win the man-of-the-match award.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal also took two wickets for 28 runs in his quota of ten overs.

Chasing a rather easy target of 219, the Proteas were bowled out for 195 in 48.1 overs.

Their main scorers were veteran batsman Jacques Kallis (50) and Jean-Paul Duminy (49) as no other batsman could make 20 or more runs.

Earlier, Pakistan were restricted to 218-9 in the allotted 50 overs after their captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad (35) and Nasir Jamshed (24) provided a good start making 49 runs But later, they lost five quick wickets before reaching 100 in 30 overs.

However, young batsman Sohaib Maqsood (22) and allrounder Shahid Afridi (26) made some useful runs and later Bilawal Bhatti and seamer Anwar Ali, who were making their ODI debut, saved the team from complete collapse.

Bilawal made 39 with two sixes and three fours while Anwar top scored with an unbeaten 43, hitting six boundaries. Both added 74 runs for the eighth wicket partnership.

For South Africa pace bowlers Dale Styen and Morne Morkel captured three wickets each for 33 and 39, respectively while veteran allrounder Jacques Kallis claimed two wickets.

Winning the match, Pakistan leading the three-match series 1-0 as the second and third ODIs are scheduled to be played on November 27 and 30, respectively.