South Africa vs Pakistan Cricket Live Score, 1st ODI (South Africa National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard): South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first. They have made a late change with Keshav Maharaj’s injury meaning he will be replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo.
With the Champions Trophy coming up next year, the bilateral series will serve as the last chance for both teams to try and test out their combinations ahead of 2025’s marquee event. Pakistan who suffered a crushing 2-0 defeat in the T20I series earlier, will look to start the ODI series on a positive note.
South Africa will not have it easy with a fair bunch of their frontline bowlers missing out due to injuries. Kagiso Rabada, their pace spearhead will have to navigate through the challenges with a fairly less experienced fast-bowling unit. They will also be without Temba Bavuma who has been rested on a precautionary note while David Miller’s fitness remains a big concern for the home side.
South Africa’s XI: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi
Pakistan’s XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
LIVE FEED
7.1 – Bowled on a hard length around off, Babar Azam gets across to the off side and tucks it down to mid-wicket.
6.6 – Ooh, in the air for a bit! KG goes fuller on off, Saim Ayub looks to drive on the up and gets it just to the left of the diving man at short extra cover and towards mid off.
Batsman_1 : Saim Ayub 13(22)
Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 9(16)
Bowler : Kagiso Rabada 0/15(4)
Over : 7
Run : 1
Wicket : 0
Score : 22/1
6.5 – Good-length delivery around the top of off stump, Saim Ayub blocks it solidly toward covers.
6.4 – Caught in two minds there Babar! Hard length now and in the channel around off, rising up, Babar ends up almost leaving it but manages to nudge it down to deep third for a run.
6.3 – That’s almost cut Babar in half there! Banged in back of a length and around off, this one angles back in a long way with sharp bounce and Babar Azam does well again to just back away and keep the ball down.
6.2 – Ooh, good bumper from KG! Digs it in well short but it is well-directed right over that front shoulder and Babar does well to just get inside the line and leave it alone.
6.1 – Pitched-up delivery on the fourth stump line, Babar Azam gets his front leg across and blocks it right off the middle of the bat.
5.6 – FOUR! Uppish but positively played by Ayub! Just back of a length but outside off, Saim Ayub throws the hands at it and slaps it flat over extra cover for a boundary.
Batsman_1 : Saim Ayub 13(20)
Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 8(12)
Bowler : Marco Jansen 1/7(3)
Over : 6
Run : 4
Wicket : 0
Score : 21/1
5.5 – Back of a length and over middle, Saim Ayub stays back and solidly blocks this one out.
5.4 – Some aggression now from Marco Jansen. Pitches the ball up on middle, Saim Ayub plays it straight back to the bowler on the front foot and Jansen fires the ball back in towards the batter but drags it well wide towards the slip cordon.
5.3 – Hard length this time over middle, just angling in a touch, Ayub gets right behind the line and makes the block.
5.2 – A touch fuller and straighter, angled into the pads, Saim Ayub taps it across to mid-wicket.
5.1 – Good-length delivery in the channel, seaming away off the deck and rising as well, Ayub looks to stand and drive but is well beaten.
4.6 – Nearly a leading edge there! Short of a length and angled into the body, Babar Azam looks to turn it off his hips but gets cramped for room and awkwardly keeps it out in front of mid on.
Batsman_1 : Babar Azam 8(12)
Batsman_2 : Saim Ayub 9(14)
Bowler : Kagiso Rabada 0/14(3)
Over : 5
Run : 6
Wicket : 0
Score : 17/1
4.5 – FOUR! Crisp shot!
4.4 – Keeps hammering that in-between length in and around the off stump line, this one nips back in a bit and Babar just about manages to block it off the front foot.
4.3 – On a hard length around off, Babar Azam stays upright and plays it with a straight bat down to mid off.
4.2 – A couple of shades fuller on off, darting back in, Babar is a bit late to get that front foot across and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
4.1 – Easy couple there! Good length, angling into the pads, Babar Azam neatly tucks it away well wide of the fielder at long leg and picks up a brace.
3.6 – Nicely floated full and outside off, gently swinging away from the left-hander and Ayub simply leaves it alone.
Batsman_1 : Saim Ayub 9(14)
Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 2(6)
Bowler : Marco Jansen 1/3(2)
Over : 4
Run : 1
Wicket : 0
Score : 11/1
3.5 – Fuller in length on the pads, turned away past the fielder at mid-wicket for a single by Babar.
3.4 – More than half a shout for LBW but the umpire isn’t interested. Pitched up again and around leg, shaping back in, Babar Azam fails to flick it away and wears it high on the pads.
2.6 – EDGED AND FOUR! Back of a length again and on a tight line around off, Saim Ayub looks to play it off the back foot but gets a thick outside edge that goes down and wide of the fielder at first slip for a boundary.
Batsman_1 : Saim Ayub 9(13)
Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 1(1)
Bowler : Kagiso Rabada 0/8(2)
Over : 3
Run : 6
Wicket : 0
Score : 10/1
3.3 – Pitched up, not too full and right in that corridor of uncertainty, Babar Azam gets a bit forward and solidly defends it to covers.
3.2 – On a hard length on middle and leg, angling across, Babar just goes across a touch and dabs it down towards square leg.
3.1 – Floats the ball up full and wide, inviting the drive and Babar Azam almost falls for it but just pulls out of the shot in time.
2.1 – In the air but just too high! Kagiso Rabada serves it a bit full and outside off, inviting the drive, Saim Ayub goes after it but the ball holds a bit in the deck and slices up and over Ryan Rickelton at gully. They pick up a couple of runs as well.
2.5 – Bowls back of a length and on a bit straighter line on off and middle, Ayub presses back to defend.
2.4 – Good length on off, not full enough to drive and Saim Ayub gets it off the toe end of the bat to the left of point where Ryan Rickelton makes a diving stop.
2.3 – Pitched up on the fifth stump line and zipping through, Ayub gets across and just tucks his hands back to let the ball through.
2.2 – Hard length now, angled across the left-hander, Ayub with a loose attempted cut and he is beaten.
1.6 – Length ball on the pads and Saim Ayub flicks it down to fine leg for a run more. A wicket and a couple of singles off Jansen’s first over.
Batsman_1 : Saim Ayub 3(7)
Batsman_2 : Babar Azam 1(1)
Bowler : Marco Jansen 1/2(1)
Over : 2
Run : 2
Wicket : 1
Score : 4/1
1.5 – Pitched up a bit too straight on the pads, Babar Azam is able to use his wrists and flick it away behind square leg for a single to get off the mark.
The skipper of Pakistan, Babar Azam walks out to the middle.
