South Africa wins over Pakistan

Disciplined South Africa downs Pakistan by eight wickets in the first one-day match.

ABU DABHI: Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe took four wickets and Jacques Kallis hit an unbeaten fifty to help a disciplined South Africa down Pakistan by eight wickets in the first one-day match here on Friday.

Tsotsobe took a career-best 4-27 off his ten tight overs to trigger a middle-order collapse and helped South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 203 before Kallis (66 retired hurt) saw off the target with 9.3 overs to spare. The modest target was never beyond South Africa’s reach after Pakistan batsmen once again failed to take advantage of a good start on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium, much to the disappointment of a 10,000 holiday crowd.

The 35-year-old Kallis, back after missing the limited over series against Zimbabwe at home and South Africa’s 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday due to injury, was at his usual best.

He steadied the South African innings through a solid 77-run stand with AB de Villiers, who also hit an attractive 51, after Graeme Smith (18) retired due to a finger injury and Hashim Amla dismissed for a well-made 35.

Kallis, who hit five boundaries and a six off paceman Abdul Razzaq, added another 41 runs with Jean-Paul Duminy (10 not out) to give South Africa a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

With just 16 needed for win Kallis suffered cramps and retired. The second match will be played here on Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2010.