Welcome to the live blog of the first ODI between South Africa and Pakistan. If you're looking for ball-by-ball updates, click here.
Bavuma will lead SA for the first time in ODIs © Getty
Pakistan get out of jail in last-ball win
South Africa nearly defended 3 runs off the final over and that is something in itself. Shadab's wicket off the first ball kick-started a string a four dot balls on the trot from Phehlukwayo. It also included a bouncer that hit Faheem on the helmet before the allrounder somehow managed to hit a couple of runs straight down the ground and then pierce the off-side for a single. Phew, we were *this* close to a Super Over! But as it stands now, Pakistan win by 3 wickets and go 1-0 up.
No ball, no wicket
Dropped by Rassie a ball before, Shadab gets a high full toss from Ngidi which he steers straight onto his stumps. Always looked above the waist and it's rightly called no ball. To make things worse, the free hit delivery pierces cover for a boundary. "That seals the deal," Ramiz Raja says on air. But does it? 3 needed off the final over. (Where's Glenn Maxwell?)
Rizwan holes out
Now, now... it's not over. With 18 needed off 17, Rizwan tries to play a cutter across the line and finds Rabada in the deep. Not a straightforward catch that either; "almost got out," Rabada seemed to be saying to his teammates. But Phehlukwayo has delivered the breakthrough for South Africa and accounted for a well-set batsman on 40. What now?
Nortje finishes
He does so by adding another wicket to his tally, with another short ball as Asif Ali's pull shot finds deep square leg. Wow, what a spell to turn this seemingly comfortable chase into what should now be a tense finish. Pakistan need 56 off 54, five wickets in hand.
What's cooking here?
How does Anrich Nortje do it? Running in ball after ball, even with the opposition in complete control and cranking it up. After Azam, he has now got rid of Imam-ul-Haq and debutant Danish Aziz with a couple of short deliveries. A sharp three-wicket burst to give SA some hope, and Pakistan more than a few jitters. This isn't over yet.
Hundred and out
Babar Azam cuts loose, races to his hundred with some delightful shots to flatten South Africa, but then gets out immediately afterwards. Wanted to punch a delivery from Nortje through the covers, only to edge it to the keeper. What a knock though. It's left Pakistan well in control. Just 88 needed off 18 overs.
Pakistan in control
There's a degree of ease with which Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq are going about their business right now. Without taking too many risks, they're getting the required number of runs every over to keep the rate around six. And at the halfway stage, with nine wickets in hand, and two batsmen on fifties, Pakistan are looking like favourites. Has to be said though that the pitch appears to have eased out from the first innings. At least that's the impression you get.
Azam, Imam steady
Some eye-catching shots from Babar Azam to start his innings but now with the fielding restrictions relaxed, he looks to have settled into the role of laying the platform along with Imam-ul-Haq. The required rate meanwhile has just crept over six. Pakistan 68/1 after 16 overs.
Rabada strikes early!
This is not a good shot from Fakhar Zaman on a pitch where the ball isn't coming on very well.Goes really hard on the cut, but the width isn't really there. Chops it back onto the stumps off the inside edge as Pakistan lose their first in just the second over.
South Africa finish with 273
He gets there!
Rassie van der Dussen has it! A maiden ODI ton for the 32-year-old. What an effort, coming as it did in trying circumstances. Will taste all the more sweeter for it.
Rauf ends big partnership
Haris Rauf is absolutely pumped, giving Miller an angry stare after nicking him off. Just a really good delivery, on a length, in the channel going across the left-hander, and a little bit of nip. Finds the edge as Miller is drawn forward. Shows that even in the 36th over, there's something happening for the seamers. It's the end of a 116-run partnership for the fifth wicket that's led South Africa's recovery.
Miller, van der Dussen rebuild
Miller and van der Dussen got together when South Africa were at risk of falling apart at 55/4. The two have since adopted contrasting styles while doing a good job of rebuilding the innings. Miller has been fluent ever since arriving to the crease, helping regain some of the momentum that was lost amid the cluster of wickets. Van der Dussen meanwhile has played the supporting role in their partnership which is now starting to look really good with both of them getting their fifties.
Four down!
Just when you thought South Africa might just dig their way out of this early wreckage, Faheem Ashraf turned up to ruin those plans. To be fair, Klaasen never looked comfortable in his 21-ball stay for his solitary run, eventually nicking one behind to Rizwan.
South Africa wobbling
Okay, much has happened in the space of just a few deliveries since de Kock was dismissed by Afridi. In that same over, Markram gave the impression that a length ball stopped on him as he chipped it up towards mid-on. The catch was taken superbly by Faheem Ashraf diving forward. Then in the next over, new captain Temba Bavuma ramped a short ball from Mohammad Hasnain straight into the hands of third man as the hosts were reduced to 43/3 (8). Things appeared to go from bad to worse when Klaasen was given out leg-before but an inside edge spotted by the DRS came to his rescue, before van der Dussen was dropped in the slips. It's all happening...
Afridi gets de Kock
After being struck for a few boundaries, Shaheen Afridi has had the last laugh in his battle with Quinton de Kock. The left-handed opener just got a bit too ambitious for his own good. Looks to loft down the line, on the up, and slices it off the outside half to mid-off.
Team news
Make sure to keep track of our ball-by-ball commentary for in-depth coverage. Here's what they have from the line-ups:Danish Aziz makes his ODI debut for Pakistan and gets his cap from Sarfaraz Ahmed. Some familiar faces like Aiden Markram and Andile Phehlukwayo return to Proteas' ODI team after a while. Both teams playing just one spinner should give you an inkling about the surface.
Toss:
Pakistan opt to field
Build up:
Hello and welcome to the start of Pakistan's limited overs tour of South Africa. It all kicks off at Centurion with the first ODI in a three-match series that will introduce a set of challenges that are pretty new for both these teams.
For starters, it's rare for South Africa to be playing cricket at home in April. Of the 571 games they've hosted across formats, only 30 of them have been in April as Telford Vice writes in this preview. And this is also the first ODI they're playing since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic last year. On top of that, they will have a new captain in Temba Bavuma.
Things are not too dissimilar for Pakistan, who have played only five ODIs since the 2019 World Cup and it's just been three ODIs since Babar Azam took charge. There's been talk about the strike-rates of their top four who have not always been known to press on from the start. Will be interesting to see the approach.
So all this points towards a contest that's going to be hard to predict. All you can do is wait for it, watch it unfold. Stay tuned.