LONDON – Pakistan on Sunday kept their chances of making it to the semi-finals alive with a 49-run victory over South Africa here at Lord’s Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 309 runs target, South Africa started miserably yet again as Mohammad Amir removed Hashim Amla in the second over. After an early wicket, de Kock and skipper du Plessis adopted a cautious approach. Once settled, both batsmen hit Pakistani bowlers all-over the ground.
Sensing danger, Sarfraz brought in his strike bowler Shadab Khan who removed de Kock on the individual score of 47 runs. Few overs later, Shadab struck again as he removed Markram.
With wickets falling at one end and run rate rising, du Plesis tried to go big and eventually succumbed to pressure. He made 63 runs.
No other South African batsmen managed to pose significant threat as wickets continued to tumble.
Shadab and Wahab Riaz removed three batsmen apiece whereas Mohammad Amir picked two wickets.
Pakistan were sloppy in the field as usual. They dropped seven catches, two on consecutive deliveries.
Earlier today, Sublime Haris Sohail on Sunday single-handedly led Pakistan to 308 runs in must-win World Cup encounter against South Africa here at Lord’s Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in do-or-die game against South Africa.
The openers started confidently as Pakistan cruised to 80 in the 14th over. The first to depart was Fakhar Zaman. He made 44 runs on 50 balls. A few overs later, a brilliant catch from Imran Tahir, on his own ball, get South Africa rid of settled Imamul Haq. He also made 44 runs on 58 balls. Hafeez also didn’t last long as Markram removed him on the individual score of 20 runs.
As another collapse looked inevitable for Pakistan, Haris Sohail—who sat on the bench on previous four encounters—arrived and immediately switched the gears. As Babar struggled to rotate the strike, it was raining in boundaries at the other end with Haris hitting South African bowlers all-over the ground indiscriminately.
Babar departed on the individual score of 69 but this did not Haris’s assault. He brought up his fifty on just 38 balls.
Haris went on to score 89 runs from 59 balls. His innings included nine boundaries and three maximums. In the end, green-shirts managed 308 runs in allotted 50 overs.
It is pertinent here to mention that from now onwards, every match for Pakistan is virtual semi-final and a loss will most likely means that an end of journey for Pakistan.
COURTESY – GNN
