AFP, Auckland :
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq became the first batsman to score 5,000 one-day international runs without any individual century when he reached the landmark against South Africa in a World Cup match in Auckland on Saturday.
The 40-year-old Misbah was only seven runs shy of 5,000 before the start of the Pool B clash at Eden Park.
A single steered through midwicket off Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir saw Misbah, batting at number four, go to 5,000 ODI runs in his 147th innings in 160 matches at this level.
Misbah, often criticised for slow scoring, came into this match averaging over 43 in ODIs with a highest score of 96 not out against the West Indies at The Oval during the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.
However, he belied his reputation by equalling West Indies’ great Vivian Richards’s all-time record for the fastest Test century with a 56-ball ton against Australia in Abu Dhabi in November last year.
