Twin debutants upstage Proteas in Cape Town
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq expressed great pride in the outstanding performances of debutants Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti, who carried Pakistan to a 23-run victory over South Africa in Sunday's first ODI at Newlands in Cape Town.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq expressed great pride in the outstanding performances of debutants Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti, who carried Pakistan to a 23-run victory over South Africa in Sunday's first ODI at Newlands in Cape Town.
Ali and Bhatti scored a quickfire 43 not out and inventive 39 respectively in a final total of 218 for nine, and later shared five key wickets as the hosts slipped to an insufficient 195 all out in 48.1 overs.
"Nobody can imagine how happy I am. I am really happy with the performance of the two debutants. They won the game for us. I think the plan was to negotiate the new ball and then accelerate later," said Misbah.
"We just kept losing wickets at the wrong time. We were short by 25 to 30 runs. The bowlers bowled really well. They were on the money and got the wickets at the right time. Bhatti was really bowling well for the last two years. He had the pace but he was not consistent with lines and lengths, but he has done that this year."
Ali was named Man of the Match on the back of a rearguard vigil that featured six boundaries. The right-arm seamer later clinched the key wickets of the veteran Jacques Kallis, who marked a promising return to the XI with a sound half-century, and the dangerous David Miller.
"I was enjoying my batting. I wanted to play my natural game. It all worked. We wanted to play the full 50 overs. We were in good form in domestic cricket as well. We wanted to get close to 215 to 220 as well," added Ali.
"We wanted to take it ball by ball. I was nervous when I got to know that I was playing the game. I was relaxed completely when I went to the wicket."
The second ODI will get underway at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. Centurion will host the third and final fixture on Saturday.
Latest
-
News
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.