1st ODI South Africa v Pakistan

25 overs South Africa  133 for 2 (Ingram 29*, de Villiers 25*) v Pakistan

Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla saw off the early seam movement from Pakistan's two seamers to construct a base from which the South African middle order could take off. They would have to compete with a quartet of slower bowlers who claimed the wickets of both openers and challenged South Africa even as they found their feet.

Pakistan went in with only Junaid Khan and Umar Gul in their pace contingent and both posed early questions for South Africa. They found movement and combined that with testing lengths, mostly on the short side.

 

Gul proved most problematic as he beat Smith's bat continuously as the ball seamed away. Amla was a little more settled and scored the first boundary - a gorgeous, effortless-looking coax through the covers in the third over.

 

Not all of his strokes were that convincing though. He inside-edged Junaid for four early on and went on to do it twice more in a somewhat charmed stint at the crease. He was dropped on 15 - a difficult chance - that required Mohammad Hafeez to dive full stretch at point when Amla slashed wildly.

 

Smith found his rhythm when he drove Junaid for four on his preferred leg-side and then hit him back over his head in the same over. Although the quicks had kept a lid on South Africa for six overs, the runs came after that, albeit some of them luckily.

 

Smith took on a familiar leading role and the pair had become so comfortable, they decided to take the batting Powerplay immediately after the mandatory one had finished.

 

Pakistan used it to introduce spin and restricted South Africa. Only 29 runs came from the five overs of fielding restrictions but, perhaps more importantly, South Africa negotiated them almost safely. However, Smith tried to reverse-paddle Saeed Ajmal and offered an easy catch to Kamran Akmal.

 

AB de Villiers promoted himself to No.3 but it did not mean much because if he had batted in his usual spot at No.4, he would have come in just three overs later. Amla had one too many dalliances with chance and was caught on the deep square leg boundary by Shoaib Malik off Hafeez.

 

Colin Ingram joined the captain and the pair accumulated quietly as Hafeez and Shahid Afridi got through their overs sharply. Ingram looked dubious against spin at first but began sweeping with confidence, often in the air, and de Villiers concentrated on strike rotation. Their partnership grew to 50 in 53 balls.

 

With the run rate at around five-and-half to the over at the mid-point of the innings and wickets in hand, South Africa would look at a big total on a flat surface.

South Africa 315 for 4 (Ingram 105*, de Villiers 65) v Pakistan

Colin Ingram enjoyed a return to the city he lived in as a student and the venue of his maiden ODI century with a third career hundred. It was arguably the most important in the context of his international career so far as Ingram looks to secure a place in South Africa's starting XI.

Of equal importance was that it came along with stand of 120 runs with AB de Villiers, which allowed South Africa to build on the base laid by the openers and post their third highest-score in Bloemfontein.

 

They left Pakistan's attack looking obviously lacking as the visitors fielded just two seamers and a quarter of spinners. The fifth and sixth bowlers, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, cost them 81 runs in 11 overs runs on a surface that did not facilitate turn and against batsmen who were intent on proving their captain's mantra that they were capable of smothering the spin threat.

 

From the evidence of the first few overs, Pakistan could have used an extra pacemen. Junaid Khan and Umar Gul found early seam movement and troubled South Africa's openers. Gul proved particularly problematic and repeatedly beat Graeme Smith's bat as he got the ball to move away.

 

Amla was a little more settled and scored the first boundary - a gorgeous, effortless-looking coax through the covers - in the third over. Not all of his strokes were that convincing, though. He inside-edged Junaid for four early on and went on to do it twice more in a somewhat charmed stint at the crease which also included him being dropped on 15.

Smith found his rhythm when he drove Junaid for four on his preferred leg-side and then hit him back over his head in the same over to open the innings up. With the pair appearing more comfortable, they took the Powerplay immediately after the mandatory one had finished.

 

Pakistan used it to introduce spin which they continued with for 21 overs in succession but only restricted South Africa for a while. Only 29 runs came from the Powerplay and South Africa almost negotiated it safely. Seven balls before the end, Smith tried to reverse paddle Saeed Ajmal and offered an easy catch to Kamran Akmal to depart for 30.

AB de Villiers promoted himself to No. 3 and was soon joined by Colin Ingram after Amla had one too many dalliances with chance. He was caught on the deep square-leg boundary by Shoaib Malik, who made good ground to take the catch.

 

De Villiers and Ingram shared in the most important stand of the innings. They accumulated runs quickly but quietly with de Villiers only hitting his first boundary after he had scored 37 runs. Ingram swept well, often in the air and they ran between the wickets with ease.

Ingram's half century came up with a single to third man and de Villiers' after he made room against Saeed Ajmal and lofted him over extra over for four. He followed up with a pull off a long hop to register the century stand - off 103 balls. Ajmal had the last laugh when he went around the wicket, pitched it short and de Villiers lobbed it to short cover.

 

Ingram had a lengthy review for an lbw against him in the next over, off Afridi, but it was eventually decided he had gloved the ball. It did not unsettle him and he has his share of the most profitable over of the innings, also off Afridi.

 

His eighth, and last over, cost 21 runs. Ingram pulled and drove and Faf du Plessis charged him, cut and pulled as well to put the Boom Boom into the match, albeit on the wrong side. Du Plessis tried to innovate with the scoop shot over fine leg and got it wrong a few times before sending it straight to short fine leg.

 

Although Farhaan Behardien is not known as a death-hitter, he was sent with a ball short of four overs to go and hit the two sixes of the innings off consecutive balls. He sent Junaid over long-on and midwicket and ensured Ingram had strike in the last over on 96.

 

He needed only one delivery to stroke the ball through the covers and bring up a second century in Bloemfontein and a second against Pakistan, who will need someone to pace an innings in similar fashion if they are to win. For the first half of the match, their tactics were not as good as Junaid only bowled nine overs and only Hafeez and Ajmal kept a lid on things.

25 overs Pakistan 111 for 3 (Younis 29*, Misbah 21*) need 205 runs to beat South Africa 315 for 4 (Ingram 105*, de Villiers 65)
Pakistan's chase was dotted with wickets as they set off in pursuit of a 300-plus target in Bloemfontein. Although South Africa's attack was inexperienced, they were well managed by AB de Villiers and made timely breakthroughs to ensure the hosts entered the final quarter of the match in control.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe slotted in well as the frontman in the absence of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. He found swing and bowled controlled lines in his first spell, which lasted five overs. He induced an edge from Mohammed Hafeez that fell short of slip and could have had Hafeez a second time when he got a leading edge to Faf du Plessis at gully, which popped out of his hands.

 

Kyle Abbott offered the openers some relief. With fullish lengths, he gave Hafeez and Jamshed opportunity to drive, which Jamshed lapped up. After two expensive overs, Rory Kleinveldt took over from Abbott and although his first two balls were driven by Jamshed, he soon pulled it back.

 

Jamshed chased a wide ball in Kleinveldt's second over and was caught by Graeme Smith at first slip. Kleinveldt appealed for a caught behind off Hafeez, which South Africa reviewed, but replays showed no edge. It took a bit of luck to remove Hafeez, who was looking confident.

 

Younis Khan drove back at Kleinveldt, who reacted quickly to deflect the ball onto the stumps at the non-strikers' end. The main issue of contention was whether Kleinveldt had made contact with the ball and numerous replays showed it had just shaved his ring finger. Hafeez was run out for 25 and Pakistan were in trouble.

 

Abbott was brought back on from the other end and worked well with Ryan McLaren to drag Pakistan's run rate back. McLaren was particularly impressive in his variation as he bowled good bouncers and prevented Pakistan from getting away. They needed to score at more than eight runs to the over to win, a task that was not impossible but required calculated risk-taking. With Younis and Misbah at the crease, it was not out of their reach.

South Africa 315 for 4 (Ingram 105*, de Villiers 65) beat Pakistan 190 (Misbah 38, Kleinveldt 4-22) by 125 runs

South Africa began their journey to the Champions Trophy with a leap - not just a step - as they overcame Pakistan with a polished all-round effort that was set up by their batsmen and finished off in the field. Importantly for them, the contributions came from quarters that have been areas of concern in the past.

The middle order, and Colin Ingram in particular, played a meaningful part and a bowling attack without Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel functioned effectively. South Africa's batsmen dealt with Pakistan's quartet of spinners with ease while their seamers, led by Ryan McLaren and Rory Kleinveldt, shut the opposition out of the match.

 

By contrast, Pakistan suffered because they fielded only two seamers and did not use Saeed Ajmal well enough, taking him off after he had made a breakthrough. The fifth and sixth bowlers, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, conceded 81 runs in 11 overs runs on a surface that did not aid turn, and against batsmen who were intent on proving their captain's belief that they were capable of smothering the spin threat.

 

The Pakistan quicks had started well as both Junaid Khan and Umar Gul found early seam movement. Gul repeatedly beat Graeme Smith's bat with deliveries that moved away. Even Hashim Amla, who opened the boundary count with a gorgeous coax through the covers, did not find the going easy. He inside-edged Junaid for four early on and went on to do it twice more in a somewhat charmed stint, which also included him being dropped on 15.

 

The openers chose to take the Powerplay as soon as it become available. Pakistan used it to introduce spin, which they continued with for 21 overs, but it only restricted South Africa for a while.

They scored 29 runs in the Powerplay for the loss of Smith. AB de Villiers promoted himself to No. 3 and was joined by Colin Ingram after Amla had one too many dalliances with chance and was caught on the deep square-leg boundary.

De Villiers and Ingram shared in the most important stand of the innings, with Ingram's knock of greater importance as he tries to cement a spot in the starting XI. Ingram swept well and for the most part they accumulated runs quietly but quickly.

De Villiers hit his first boundary after he had scored 37 runs but his search for singles was ceaseless. When he did find the rope, he did it a second time for good measure. He made room against Ajmal and lofted over extra cover for four to bring up his half-century and then pulled the next ball to bring up the century stand off 103 balls. It had swelled to 120 when Ajmal had the last laugh as de Villiers lobbed to short cover.

Ingram took over and played his part in ending Afridi's participation with the ball. His eighth and last over cost 21 runs; Ingram hit two out of five boundaries. Faf du Plessis was responsible for the other three. He put on 62 with Ingram before scooping to short fine leg.

Although Farhaan Berhardien is not known as a hitter, he was sent in with four overs to go and hit the two sixes of the innings off consecutive balls. He sent Junaid Khan over long-on and midwicket and ensured Ingram, on 96, had strike in the last over.

He needed only one delivery to stroke the ball through the covers and bring up a second century in Bloemfontein and a second against Pakistan. He also took South Africa to their third highest total at the ground, giving Pakistan a tough chase.

Pakistan's openers were challenged by Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who found swing and induced an edge from Mohammed Hafeez that fell short of slip. He could have had Hafeez a second time when he got a leading edge to du Plessis, which popped out of his hands at gully.

Kyle Abbott offered some relief by inviting the drive. Jamshed, however, was just getting into a higher gear when he chased a wide ball off Kleinveldt's second over and was caught at first slip. Kleinveldt also got the timely breakthrough when he ran Hafeez out at the non-strikers' end. Younis Khan had driven back at the bowler, who deflected the ball with the slightest touch of his ring finger.

Pakistan needed a big stand but AB de Villiers did not let Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq settle with clever rotations of his bowlers. They posted 49 before Younis became Abbott's first ODI wicket.

McLaren ensured Pakistan could not claw their way back. He displayed excellent use of variation and the short ball had Misbah caught behind as he tried to pull one. At 135 for 5 in the 29th over, it was only a matter of time but Afridi lengthened it with some blows at the end. Three huge hits took his sixes tally to 301. He muscled his way to 34 before holing out to deep midwicket to give Kleinveldt career-best figures and South Africa a comprehensive win.