Bloemfontein – Colin Ingram brought up his century in the last over of the innings to take South Africa to 315/4 in the first Momentum One Day International against Pakistan, in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Ingram’s third hundred came off 101 balls and included nine boundaries and he was 105 not out at the end of the innings.
He and Farhaan Behardien compiled a quick fifty partnership off 23 balls which included the only two sixes in the match.
Sent in to bat, the opening pair of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla set the foundation with a 72-run stand, off 84 balls, before Saeed Ajmal made the breakthrough.
Attempting a reverse paddle, Smith (30) got a glove to the ball which bounced upwards off his shoulder, giving Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal a simple catch.
Protea ODI captain and wicketkeeper AB de Villiers moved himself up the order, coming in at three, but he was soon joined by Ingram after Amla’s luck finally ran out.
Having survived a couple of chances, Amla (43) got a top edge to Mohammad Hafeez and the ball flew skywards to Shoaib Malik at deep square leg.
Ingram brought up his half-century followed shortly afterwards by De Villiers, whose fifty came at a run a ball after boundaries had dried up for a period of nearly seven overs.
Looking to go over extra cover, De Villiers did not get enough bat on ball and ended up being caught at short cover by Younus Khan, off Ajmal, for 65.
Faf du Plessis and Ingram smashed Shahid Afridi for five fours in the 40th over and added 63 runs together before Du Plessis (26) tried another unsuccessful scoop – this time off Junaid Khan – straight into the hands of Umar Gul at short fine leg.
Farhaan Behardien hit the first six of the match over long-on, in the 49th over, off a full toss from Junaid and followed it up with another one over deep mid-wicket. He was unbeaten on 34, off just 14 deliveries and Pakistan need to make 316 if they are to win their first ever match played in Bloemfontein. – Sapa