Related Links : South Africa in Pakistan 2007/08 : Scorecard
South Africa have won the first ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium by 45 runs. Centuries from Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers were instrumental in piling up a huge target of 295 for Pakistan under lights. With Makhaya Ntini striking some good form with the ball, Pakistani top order batted itself out of the game.
Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors got off to a powerful start from its openers – Skipper Graeme Smith (34) and Herschelle Gibbs, who went onto make 102 from 128 balls with 11 fours and a six. After a solid opening stand of 85, Gibbs put on 137 for the 3rd wicket with AB de Villiers that laid the platform. AB de Villiers stroke his way to an unbeaten 103 which came in just 95 balls through 9 fours and 3 sixes. The Proteas finished at 294 for 5. Shahid Afridi was the best of the bowlers with a restrictive spell of 1 for 48 in his 10 overs. Off Spinner Hafeez did a similar job too in restricting the scoring.
In the evening session, a hostile Makhaya Ntini ran through the Pakistani batting which had them reduced at 92 for 5 by the 21st over. Ntini took four out of the five wickets to fall. Pakistan had a ray of hope with Mohammad Yousuf and Kamran Akmal pulling off a partnership. But once Kallis removed Yousuf (53 from 75 with 3 fours) in the 36th over, the match was as good as over. Kallis also went onto dismiss Kamran Akmal who had made 35 in 55 balls. Afridi batting down the order came up with a blazing 26-ball 47 with 5 fours and 2 sixes but that was only good enough to reduce the margin of defeat. Pakistan were bowled out for 249 in 46.3 overs. Ntini proved to be expensive conceding 69 in his 9 but his four wickets at the start of the innings had knocked Pak out of the contest. The Man of the Match award went to AB de Villiers ahead of Gibbs and Ntini.