Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Pakistan maintain their unbeaten record at Port Elizabeth: they've now won three of the four games they've played here against South Africa, with one no result. This win also means that South Africa have not beaten Pakistan in an ODI since 2013. Pakistan's record against South Africa since that last bilateral series here is now 5-1. What a turnaround after the Test series! Pakistan were always going to be more comfortable in this format, and they've shown that that they're a force to be reckoned with in white ball cricket, even away from home. It never seemed like South Africa had quite enough on the board, despite Hashim Amla's ton and Rassie van der Dussen's 93 on debut. No Pakistan batsman reached their scores, but with Imam leading the way with 86, Babar keeping things ticking over with 49, and Hafeez guiding the finish with an unbeaten 71, Pakistan have won with ease.

Irshad Ahmed: "How Pakistani Supporters wish that Hafeez was there to counter Olivier's bouncers in the Tests. "

Nisarg: "South Africa played really slow and they were lacking atleast 30 runs into add that total. Pakistan's bowling in middle and death overs were vital and their batting is exceptionally well - A indian Fan "

"The two guys batted really well, but perhaps there were 10 or 15 runs that we could have pushed a little harder," says Faf du Plessis. "Pakistan batted really well, you have to give credit where it's due. Some great learnings for us, and we know where we can get better. Tonight will be a learning curve. An in-form Hashim Amla is great for us. Rassie played beautifully, he had intent right through his innings. We need to adapt. You're not going to always get conditions for the fast bowlers. And Pakistan bowled better than us over fifty overs today."

Mohammad Hafeez is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock "It's a team effort," he says. "It was not a par score on this track, so we were confident chasing it. To be very honest, we were very sure as a team we should chase this one. The start given by Fakhar and Imam was brilliant, Babar gave us momentum, and it was a team effort."

"A great team effort," echoes Sarfraz Ahmed. "The batting was very responsible. In the middle overs, Shadab was great, as well as Imad. And the way our fast bowlers bowled was very good."

That's all from your commentary team tonight. Join us again for the second match at Kingsmead in Durban on Tuesday. Until then, goodbye!

49.1
1
Rabada to Shadab Khan, 1 run, and there it is, Shadab digs a yorker out down the ground and the job is done, Pakistan win by five wickets with five balls to spare

END OF OVER:
49 | 13 Runs | PAK: 266/5 (1 run required from 6 balls, RR: 5.42, RRR: 1.00)

  • Mohammad Hafeez71 (63b)
  • Shadab Khan17 (18b)
  • Duanne Olivier10-0-73-2
  • Kagiso Rabada9-1-50-0
48.6
4
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, they're level! Olivier's bouncer terrorized Pakistan through three Tests, but this track doesn't have the same sort of pace and bounce and Hafeez dismisses the short ball from his presence with a crisp pull. Mickey is smiling on the balcony. So is Sarfraz
48.5
0
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, what's happened here? It's another short one from Olivier, and the ball hits Hafeez on the shoulder on its way through to Klaasen. No major drama

Basit: "Hafeez just got himself another ten years"

48.4
2
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs, aerial once more off the bat of Hafeez, but this time it's a pull of rather more authority, the ball dropping well in front of the square leg fielder
48.3
2
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs, in the air ... and safe! Olivier bettered Hafeez with a bristling short ball, a top edge swirling high in the air but plummeting safely down even as Klaasen charged back to try and catch it
48.2
1
Olivier to Shadab Khan, 1 run, Olivier pulls his length back, Shadab hops to find a single to gully
48.1
4
Olivier to Shadab Khan, FOUR, this will help! Shadab clears the front leg at a length delivery, flat-batting a brutal shot straight back over the bowler's head

14 off 12 needed

END OF OVER:
48 | 4 Runs | PAK: 253/5 (14 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.27, RRR: 7.00)

  • Shadab Khan12 (16b)
  • Mohammad Hafeez63 (59b)
  • Kagiso Rabada9-1-50-0
  • Duanne Olivier9-0-60-2
47.6
1
Rabada to Shadab Khan, 1 run, pulled in the air ... but well short of any fielder, and it's cut off before the boundary as they sprint through for one
47.5
0
Rabada to Shadab Khan, no run, pushed to cover off the front foot, but straight at the fielder, who keeps them honest with a shy that hits the stumps
47.4
2
Rabada to Shadab Khan, 2 runs, slower ball from Rabada, just outside off, and Shadab waits and waits before dabbing a cut to third man. The ball goes to Tahir's left, and there's room for a second
47.3
0
Rabada to Shadab Khan, no run, short again by Rabada, and this one is dug in with a little more vim at 142km/h, Shadab ducking well under it
47.2
0
Rabada to Shadab Khan, no run, dug in short by Rabada, Shadab arching his back as the ball gets big on him and aiming a dinky ramp over the keeper, only to hit fresh air

Muttahar: "Hafeez is enjoying Steynless South Africa"

47.1
1
Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, a rising delivery, outside off stump, is guided down to third man for one

Three overs to go. All Pakistan need is a run a ball. Surely the game is as good as safe. Here's Rabada for a last blast

END OF OVER:
47 | 10 Runs | PAK: 249/5 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.29, RRR: 6.00)

  • Mohammad Hafeez62 (58b)
  • Shadab Khan9 (11b)
  • Duanne Olivier9-0-60-2
  • Kagiso Rabada8-1-46-0

Qasim: "Hello from cold wintery Buffalo NY, a Pakistan win will bring some much needed warmth. "

Usama khalid: "204 ODI by hafeez, can he be trusted to finish the game?"

46.6
1
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, nudged into the leg side, and there's room for a single that keeps Hafeez on strike
46.5
4
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, what a shot! This is ice cold from Hafeez. Olivier is trying to do too much, and another attempted yorker slips out as a full toss. Hafeez spots it early and chips the ball over mid off with a checked drive, wonderfully executed
46.4
0
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, that's better from Olivier, targeting the stumps once again, and Hafeez taps to midwicket
46.3
4
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, bad ball, great shot! Hafeez eases the pressure by walking across to off stump to paddle a full toss outside leg stump down to the fine leg boundary. Olivier must have been aiming for the yorker, but that would have been a big wide had Hafeez not hit it
46.2
0
Olivier to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, Hafeez is searching, but South Africa are giving him nothing. Olivier zones in on the stumps, and Hafeez protects them with a forward push

Malik Murad: "Sitting here in Toronto in coffee shop, following cricinfo. Pak pls don't go until last over. Finish it ASAP. "

46.1
1
Olivier to Shadab Khan, 1 run, full, just outside off, and Shadab turns the strike over to Hafeez by chopping the ball into the off side

Four overs to go. Pakistan need 28. And here's Olivier to bowl his ninth

END OF OVER:
46 | 5 Runs | PAK: 239/5 (28 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.19, RRR: 7.00)

  • Shadab Khan8 (10b)
  • Mohammad Hafeez53 (53b)
  • Kagiso Rabada8-1-46-0
  • Imran Tahir10-0-44-1

Moiz Shaikh: "Cant take eyes of the live score section. Going to my report for few seconds and rushing back to cricinfo.. Ahh making it look very interesting..."

45.6
1
Rabada to Shadab Khan, 1 run, an attempted yorker that slips out as a low full toss, and Shadab digs it out to long on for one
45.5
0
Rabada to Shadab Khan, no run, Rabada floats one fuller, and Shadab is forward to drive but aims his shot straight at the cover fielder, who keeps Hafeez alert with a shy at the non-striker's end
45.4
2
Rabada to Shadab Khan, 2 runs, just short of a good length once again, and Shadab hops in the crease before punching the ball through cover point, a hard sprint bringing two more

Ali Mustafa: "My illegal streaming app just died. Cricinfo we meet again.." Welcome!

45.3
1
Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, a touch too straight from Rabada, and Hafeez finds a single through square leg
45.2
0
Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, Rabada aims full and fast at 142km/h, Hafeez nurdling the ball into the leg side but not into a gap

PAK in SA 2018-19 News

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st45Fakhar ZamanImam-ul-Haq
2nd94Babar AzamImam-ul-Haq
3rd46Mohammad HafeezImam-ul-Haq
4th33Shoaib MalikMohammad Hafeez
5th5Mohammad HafeezSarfaraz Ahmed
6th44Mohammad HafeezShadab Khan