Pakistan debutants shine in 23-run win in South Africa

Cape Town: Pakistan defended its meager 218-9 with help from outstanding debuts by Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti to win the first one-day international against South Africa by 23 runs on Sunday. Ali and Bhatti upstaged Jacques Kallis in his first ODI in nearly two years as South Africa was all out for 195 off 48.1 overs at Newlands -- despite Kallis' half-century.The tourists took an early lead in the three-game series and have won two straight limited-overs games in South Africa after losing six in a row to the Proteas stretching back to their recent series in United Arab Emirates.Ali top-scored for his team with an unbeaten 43 and then snatched two wickets, including veteran allrounder Kallis for 50 on his comeback, as Pakistan held the South Africans at bay. Bhatti had 3-37 to wrap up victory after earlier making 39 and sharing a match-turning 74-run stand with Ali.Their vital eighth-wicket stand in their first ODI game lifted Pakistan out of serious trouble at 131-7 and ensured the tourists had something to bowl at. In the end it proved more than enough as only Kallis and JP Duminy (49) threatened.Tailenders Dale Steyn (15) and Morne Morkel (17) launched South Africa's final attack, but Bhatti sent both packing and ended the game by rattling their stumps with perfect yorkers.The second ODI is in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.Kallis' half-century followed his 2-53 as the 38-year-old South African was recalled for his first ODI game since February 2012. The rest of South Africa's top order failed and Duminy was left with too much to do.Batting first, Pakistan was rocked early in its innings by Steyn's 3-33. Morkel finished strongly with 3-39 and Vernon Philander claimed 1-37 as South Africa gave its front-line seam attack a run out in its first ODI of its home season and they responded with seven wickets between them.Steyn had the first two breakthroughs when Nasir Jamshed (24) and Mohammad Hafeez (5) both edged to the slips. Morkel claimed the key wicket of returning captain Misbah-ul-Haq for 13 when he gloved a short ball down the leg side for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.Kallis picked up opener Ahmed Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood and Pakistan was teetering when Shahid Afridi shuffled across his stumps in a failed attempt to improvise and Steyn knocked back his leg stump.Bhatti and Ali's rescue act was rapid -- their 74-run stand came off just 70 deliveries. Ali hit six fours to remain unbeaten and just short of a debut half-century. Bhatti collected three fours and two sixes before he was trapped lbw by Morkel. South Africa stumbled throughout its reply and Kallis' dismissal after he hit five fours and a six left the home team 115-5. Duminy's measured 49 from 70 balls gave the Proteas a glimmer of hope but offspinner Saeed Ajmal (2-28) and Bhatti snuffed that out.