Sydney: Fine batting by Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan and three early wickets taken by Shaheen Afridi led to the 33-run victory of Pakistan against South Africa in the rain-curtailed super 12 group 2 match of the T20 World Cup Tournament at Sydney on Thursday.
Pakistan opted to bat first and lost a few quick wickets, but Iftikhar and Shadab anchored the innings and took the team’s total to 185 for nine wickets in 20 overs.
For South Africa Anrich Nortje scalped four wickets. Chasing 186, South Africa lost four wickets before the skies opened interrupting the same and the revised target for the team was 142 in 14 overs. The Pakistani got the Proteas out for 108 and registered a 33-run win. Now that Pakistan has won against South Africa, they may hope for a semi-final berth with all to play for in their last group game, but South Africa needs to beat the Netherlands on Sunday for a spot in the semis.
As we get to the business end of the tournament, Group 1 action resumes tomorrow with a doubleheader.
After the match, skipper of Pakistani team Babar Azam said that they performed well and he was happy with the victory and that the first two losses were heavy on them, but the way they played their last two matches was amazing.
South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Temba Bavuma (Captain), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Pakistan XI: Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
