South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Toss and teams

So South Africa have won a crucial toss and elected to bat. The track at Port Elizabeth usually slows down as the match progresses. Two debutants for South Africa in the form of Duanne Olivier and Rassie van der Dussen.

Teams:

Pakistan (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan

South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis(c), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Duanne Olivier

Build Up:

After a chastening experience in the Test series, where they were clean-swept 3-0 by South Africa, Pakistan will look to bounce back in the 50-over format. With it being a restricted format and in addition to it, the white Kookaburra ball not helping pacers to generate swing up front, Pakistan would hope that they can tackle the menace of South Africa's pace attack.

The likes of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Saheen Afridi need to stand up for the tourists to make an impact. Meanwhile, going into the first ODI at Port Elizabeth, the home side will look at experimentation before zeroing in on the best combination for the World Cup in England. Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock have been rested. And that could open up opportunities for the likes of van der Dassen and Pakistan's tormentor in the Test series, Olivier, to prove their worth.

Can the visitors turn around their fortunes in the ODI format? The Pakistan camp would certainly hope to win the toss as the track at Port Elizabeth tends to slow down as the game progresses.