Imam, Hafeez guide Pakistan to victory against South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH: Valuable knocks by Imamul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez helped Pakistan secure their first victory during South Africa tour at St George’s Park on Saturday

Match Summary!
Pakistan win the first #SAvPAK ODI by 5 wickets.
Scorecard: https://t.co/NtMhQpcCuu pic.twitter.com/xBXviIDKxm

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 19, 2019

Earlier, Hashim Amla hit his 27th one-day international century as South Africa made 266 for two in the first of five matches against Pakistan in the first of five-match ODI series.

Amla (108 not out) shared a second-wicket partnership of 155 with debutant Rassie van der Dussen (93) but the pair were unable to dominate against steady bowling on a slow pitch.

“It was a tough wicket,” Amla told SuperSport television as he left the field at the end of the innings. “You have to bide your time. I think it’s a good total.”

Although Pakistan were only able to claim two wickets, they bowled well on a windy day, with captain Sarfraz Ahmed juggling his bowlers in short spells.

Scoring was slow during the middle overs with seamer Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Shadab Khan bowling particularly well. They took one for 42 and one for 41 respectively in their ten overs.

Amla and Reeza Hendricks (45) put on 82 off 105 balls for the first wicket before Van der Dussen made a slow start in his first one-day international, taking ten balls to score his first run.

But the scoring rate picked up and Van der Dussen hit six fours and three sixes in a 101-ball innings. Amla made his runs off 120 balls with seven fours and a six.

Teams:

SOUTH AFRICA: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

PAKISTAN: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari.