Sarfraz equals record as Pakistan snatch victory from South Africa

AUCKLAND: A hostile trio of Pakistan left-arm fast bowlers took full advantage of a pitch freshened by rain to hand pre-tournament favourites South Africa their second defeat in the cricket World Cup at Eden Park on Saturday.

Man-of-the-match Sarfraz Ahmed equalled the world record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a one-day international with six dismissals, taking his final catch as rain swept across the ground.




Set 232 to win off 47 overs on the Duckworth-Lewis method after Pakistan had scored 222 from 46.4 overs in an innings twice interrupted by rain, South Africa were dismissed for 202 from 33.3 overs after a thrilling counter-attack from AB de Villiers.

The South African skipper threatened to win the game on his own but when he became the ninth wicket to fall, caught behind for 77 from 58 deliveries, the task was too much.

Rahat Ali was the most successful of the Pakistan bowlers with three for 40. Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz, also took three with the latter, despite taking some punishment from de Villiers, impressing again with his pace and hostility.

After Quinton de Kock had edged Irfan's second ball to Sarfraz, Hashim Amla started as if he wanted to score the runs by himself.

Amla's first seven scoring shots were boundaries and he became the tournament's highest run scorer on his way to 38 before he gave Sarfraz his third consecutive catch.

Wickets then tumbled swiftly, leaving de Villiers watching impassively at the other end. He flicked Wahab to square leg for four and hooked a six in the same over and looked to be taking his team to victory when he edged Sohail Khan to Sarfraz.

Wahab wrapped up a 29-run victory when Imran Tahir gave Sarfraz his record-equalling catch.

Pakistan struggled throughout their innings with their top order batsmen failing to capitalise on some promising starts and their tail succumbing tamely.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq once again anchored his team's batting with 56 off 86 balls while Dale Steyn was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking three for 30 from his 10 overs and bowling with fierce pace and control from both ends.

Sarfraz, who opened the batting, looked to be taking charge when he lofted off-spinner JP Duminy over wide long on for three sixes in an over.

In the following over, though, he was run out for 49 attempting a risky second run which would have brought up his half-century following sharp work by David Miller at square leg.

The experienced Younus Khan, returning to the Pakistan side in place of the injured Haris Sohail, reached 37 when he poked de Villiers's gentle medium pace to Rilee Rossouw at cover.

Sohaib Maqsood followed for eight with an equally tame catch to the same fielder at point.



The 1992 champions needed a victory to keep their hopes alive for a quarter-final place after losing their first two games before winning the next two, but coach Waqar Younis believed his team was peaking at the right time.

Pakistan dropped struggling opener Nasir Jamshed while Haris Sohail was ruled out with a heel injury. In came, Younis Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed.

Pakistan had never beaten South Africa in a World Cup match, losing to their African rivals in 1992, 1996 and 1999.

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END OF LIVE UPDATES

Pakistan win

Pakistan have won the match after Wahab Riaz claims the wicket of Imran Tahir.

AB de Villiers out

Sohail has dismissed the South African skipper after he was caught behind by Sarfaraz. South Africa 201-9 after 33 overs.

Eight Down

Abbott is gone. Rahat Ali strikes as Younis takes the catch in second slip. South Africa 177-8 after 30 overs.

Irfan claims Styen's wicket

Styen is out. Caught behind by Sarafaz off Irfan’s bowling. South Africa 138-7 after 24 overs.

Six wickets down

Wahab Riaz takes a great catch to send Duminy back off Irfan’s bowling. South Africa 103-6 in 20 overs.

South African struggles continue

Rahat Ali claims the wicket of David Miller (0) lbw. South Africa 77-5 after 15.5 overs

One more for Wahab

Wahab claims another wicket. Rossouw falls when he is caught by Sohail Khan. South Africa 74-4

Pakistan strike back

Wahab Riaz dismisses Hashim Amla (38) as Sarafaz takes a brilliant one handed catch behind the stumps. South Africa 67-3 after 11 overs

Partnership broken

Du Plessis is caught behind by Sarfaraz off Rahat Ali’s bowling. South Africa 67/2. Rilee Rossouw comes into bat. After ten overs South Africa are 67-2.

Rahat and Afridi brought on

Afridi replaces Irfan at the other end.

After a slow start the South African batsmen started to pick apart the Pakistani opening bowlers. Rahat has been brought on to replace Sohail Khan. South Africa 61-1 after eight overs.

South Africa 23-1 after 5 overs

Pakistan’s seamers Irfan and Sohail Khan bowl well in the first five overs to restrict South Africa to 23 runs.

Sohail starts his spell

Sohail Khan begins his first spell for Pakistan. South Africa 8-1 after 2 overs.

Irfan strikes early

The first wicket falls as de Kock is caught behind by Sarfaraz off Irfan’s bowling. Francois du Pessis comes in to bat. South Africa 5-1 after one over.

South Africa begin chase of 232

South Africa have begun their chase of 232. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock open the innings.

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END OF FIRST INNINGS

Pakistan out for 222

Pakistan have set a 232 target after D/L. South Africa have 47 overs for the chase.

Styen claims one more

Styen claims another wicket when Rahat Ali falls for one run. Pakistan 221-9 in 46 overs.

Misbah out

Misbah falls for 56. Styen claims his wicket when Morkel takes a catch on the boundary. Pakistan 218-8 in 44 overs.

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Play shortened

The match has been shortened to 47 overs due to the rain delays.

Shahid Afridi out

Shahid Afridi scores a quick 22 after being caught by Duminy off Steyn's bowling. Pakistan 212-7 in 42 overs. Wahab Riaz lbw b Imran Tahir 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

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Play resumes

Play resumes following the rain delay. Pakistan 203-5 in 41 overs

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Play stopped due top rain

Play has been stopped once again due to rain. Pakistan 197-5 in 40.1 overs

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Misbah scores half century

Fifty up for skipper #Misbah his 42nd in ODI. Pakistan 196-5 in 40 overs.

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Play resumes

Play resumes in the 37th over. Misbah and Afridi batting for Pakistan.

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Rain stops play

Players go off the ground as play is delayed by rain. The pitch has been covered as a necessary precaution.

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Umar Akmal out with 13 off 20 balls. Caught De Villiers, bowled Morkel.

Pakistan 175-5 in 37 overs.

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Pakistan 167-4 after 35 overs

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Pakistan lose their 4th wicket

Sohaib falls, caught Rossouw bowled Abbott. Pakistan 156-4 in 32 overs.

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Pakistan 147-3 after 30 overs

Misbah batting with 26 off 43 balls. Sohaib Maqsood batting with 8 from 15 deliveries.

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Younis falls

AB De Villiers gets a leading edge from Younis Khan, who falls after scoring 37 off 44 balls. Pakistan 132-3 after 27 overs.

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Four by Misbah brings Pakistan to 126-2 after 25 overs.

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Pakistan 107-2 after 20 overs

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South Africa claim crucial wicket

Sarfraz Ahmed tries to take two but fail to cover ground and is run out in the 17th over, just two runs short of a 50. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq comes in to replace Sarfraz.

Pakistan 93-2 in 17 overs.

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Sarfraz on fire!

Sarfraz Ahmed punishes JP Duminy by hitting three sixes in one over — two in a row. Sarfraz batting on 48. Pakistan 90-1 after 16 overs.

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Younis takes De Villiers to task

Younis Khan takes the South African captain to task by hitting a couple of beautiful strokes for four. Pakistan 54-1 after 12 overs.

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Pakistan 45-1 after 11 overs

Delicate nudge by Sarfraz off South African spinner Imran Tahir clears the boundary, takes Pakistan to 45-1 after 11 overs.

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Pakistan lose first wicket

Spectacular catch by Steyn claims Shahzad's wicket. Pakistan 30-1 after 9 overs.

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Pakistan 18-0 after 6 overs

This is the best opening stand by the Pakistani side in the World Cup so far.

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Slow start

After a couple of missed deliveries by Sarfraz in the first over by Dale Steyn and a four in the second, Pakistan 7-0 after 2 overs.

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Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shahzad open for Pakistan.
This is Sarfraz's first World Cup match.

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Pakistan to bat first

South Africa captain AB de Villiers won the toss and put Pakistan into bat.

Captain Misbah says Pakistan need a good batting start to win the match.

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Teams:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Irfan

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, JP Duminy, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir