Plenty of positives, says Smith
Graeme Smith admitted he was very pleased with the way South Africa had performed in all aspects of their game in the first ODI
Osman Samiuddin in Lahore
18-Oct-2007
![]() |
![]()
|
"We're very happy with the way we played today," Smith agreed. "We
controlled 90% of the game and the majority of it was very comfortable for
us. They were always behind the eight-ball [even when Pakistan's
lower-order briefly rallied] and we always knew one good over would change
it."
The game was set up, Smith acknowledged, by Herschelle Gibbs and AB de
Villiers; both scored hundreds in a 137-run partnership for the third
wicket. And if ever instructions were needed on how innings should be
paced, both provided it.
de Villiers began solidly. His fifty came from 62 balls, which isn't slow,
but his hundred only 31 balls later. Gibbs' second fifty came at a
run-a-ball. "I was especially happy to push through and get to hundred,"
said de Villiers. "I gave myself time to get in. It wasn't easy against
the spinners early and Hersch told me just to settle down first. Once I
got to fifty, I thought I'd push and suddenly I was in the nineties."
More than any bowler, however, his own body challenged him. As he pushed
on, the heat, the lack of water brought on cramps. He reacted to it in
celebratory fashion though, hitting two sixes and two fours in the 47th
over when he was really struggling to stand up. "It wasn't as bad as it
was in the World Cup," he said, referring to his hundred against the West
Indies, before joking, "Good to see it's not because of the alcohol."
South Africa's top order has been the least of Smith's concerns on this
tour, for all of them have contributed at one stage or another. The only
nagging concern has been over Makhaya Ntini, who looked so flat during the
Tests. Even that was put aside today, as the bounce returned to his run-up
and his bowling.
If de Villiers and Gibbs set it up, then Ntini finished it off, taking out
Pakistan's top four all by himself. He went for runs in his second spell
but that will not bother Smith. "It's good to see him come back. He's
hitting his straps now. He's not been up to his own standards so far
though he improved during the second Test, but it was good to see him back
up to his standards today."
South Africa have maintained high standards from the day they landed and
with the second game on Saturday, more of the same will be expected.
"We've played really good cricket since we've been here, right from day
one. 1-0 is always a good start and there are a lot of positives to take
out from today. Maybe we can talk about our death bowling but we were very
good."
Osman Samiuddin is the Pakistan editor of Cricinfo