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25 overs South Africa 128 for 6 (Behardien 41*, Peterson 15*) v Pakistan
Mohammad Irfan reduced South Africa to 62 for 5 in the 11th over © Associated Press
Pakistan's decision to include an extra pace bowler yielded rich rewards as Mohammed Irfan extracted significant bounce from the Centurion surface to dismantle South Africa's top order. He was primarily responsible for the hosts teetering on 62 for 5 but he lacked sufficient back up.
Despite their innings being punctuated with wickets, South Africa still managed to score at over five runs to the over and found the boundary 14 times. Home boy Farhaan Berhardien bettered his efforts from Bloemfontein to record his highest ODI score and with time on his side eyed a maiden milestone in national colours.
He would not have been thinking of that when he walked to the crease in the eighth over with his team at 43 for 4. The score did not reflect the positive start made by Hashim Amla who thrived briefly while Graeme Smith struggled against the back of a length approach from Irfan and Junaid Khan.
Neither erred too greatly in line or length but on the three occasions they did, Amla took advantage. He pulled Junaid's first ball through mid-wicket, drove the first ball of his second over off the back foot and took on Irfan, also with a stylish, wristy pull. The ball after that shot, Amla chased the next one and inside-edged through to Kamran Akmal.
In an action packed three deliveries, that was followed by Akmal appealing against Colin Ingram, who he was convinced was caught behind. Ingram was given not out but Misbah-ul-Haq chose to use the review and although nothing was visible on Hotspot, there was a clear sound which signalled his golden duck.
AB de Villiers found himself in with a lot of overs left - just as he likes it - but barely had time to admire the tennis-style smash he played off Irfan before being caught at second slip. De Villiers was left undecided by the extra bounce as he debated between the upper-cut and a drive and played too late to get the edge.
With carnage at one end, Smith had a big, rebuilding job on his hands. His first attempt at getting that going was his last, though. An attempt at an aggressive hook shot resulted in a faint edge to give Junaid, who had been expensive, upfront a wicket as well.
Faf du Plessis and Behardien built a small stand on the back of a glorious du Plessis straight drive and Behardien's first scoring shot, a drive through the covers. The two Titans team-mates looked capable of getting South Africa out of trouble but quick reflexes from Irfan stopped them. When du Plessis tried to fend off a back of a length ball and it popped up off the glove, Irfan was quick to get down to his left and take the catch.
With Irfan on a roll, Misbah chose to extend his spell and he was only replaced after a seventh over. Spin was introduced as well and Berhardien hit his stride, sweeping Saeed Ajmal for four. Umar Gul made little impact and gave away too many runs to allow Berhardien and Ryan McLaren to construct the highest stand of the innings so far - 44.
Mohammad Hafeez put an end to that recovery. In his first over, he reviewed an lbw decision against McLaren but replays showed it was an umpire's call and the not-out stood. The next ball, McLaren was stuck on the pad again and given out.
With Behardien still at the crease and the possibility of Duckworth-Lewis playing a role as storm clouds brew, South Africa will lookto build a competitive total.
Mohammad Irfan reduced South Africa to 62 for 5 in the 11th over © Associated Press
Pakistan's decision to include an extra pace bowler yielded rich rewards as Mohammed Irfan extracted significant bounce from the Centurion surface to dismantle South Africa's top order. He was primarily responsible for the hosts teetering on 62 for 5 but he lacked sufficient back up.
Despite their innings being punctuated with wickets, South Africa still managed to score at over five runs to the over and found the boundary 14 times. Home boy Farhaan Berhardien bettered his efforts from Bloemfontein to record his highest ODI score and with time on his side eyed a maiden milestone in national colours.
He would not have been thinking of that when he walked to the crease in the eighth over with his team at 43 for 4. The score did not reflect the positive start made by Hashim Amla who thrived briefly while Graeme Smith struggled against the back of a length approach from Irfan and Junaid Khan.
Neither erred too greatly in line or length but on the three occasions they did, Amla took advantage. He pulled Junaid's first ball through mid-wicket, drove the first ball of his second over off the back foot and took on Irfan, also with a stylish, wristy pull. The ball after that shot, Amla chased the next one and inside-edged through to Kamran Akmal.
In an action packed three deliveries, that was followed by Akmal appealing against Colin Ingram, who he was convinced was caught behind. Ingram was given not out but Misbah-ul-Haq chose to use the review and although nothing was visible on Hotspot, there was a clear sound which signalled his golden duck.
AB de Villiers found himself in with a lot of overs left - just as he likes it - but barely had time to admire the tennis-style smash he played off Irfan before being caught at second slip. De Villiers was left undecided by the extra bounce as he debated between the upper-cut and a drive and played too late to get the edge.
With carnage at one end, Smith had a big, rebuilding job on his hands. His first attempt at getting that going was his last, though. An attempt at an aggressive hook shot resulted in a faint edge to give Junaid, who had been expensive, upfront a wicket as well.
Faf du Plessis and Behardien built a small stand on the back of a glorious du Plessis straight drive and Behardien's first scoring shot, a drive through the covers. The two Titans team-mates looked capable of getting South Africa out of trouble but quick reflexes from Irfan stopped them. When du Plessis tried to fend off a back of a length ball and it popped up off the glove, Irfan was quick to get down to his left and take the catch.
With Irfan on a roll, Misbah chose to extend his spell and he was only replaced after a seventh over. Spin was introduced as well and Berhardien hit his stride, sweeping Saeed Ajmal for four. Umar Gul made little impact and gave away too many runs to allow Berhardien and Ryan McLaren to construct the highest stand of the innings so far - 44.
Mohammad Hafeez put an end to that recovery. In his first over, he reviewed an lbw decision against McLaren but replays showed it was an umpire's call and the not-out stood. The next ball, McLaren was stuck on the pad again and given out.
With Behardien still at the crease and the possibility of Duckworth-Lewis playing a role as storm clouds brew, South Africa will lookto build a competitive total.