Pacers, Sarfraz sizzle as Pakistan conquer SA

AUCKLAND: When Waqar Younis described his pace attack as the best in the World Cup many thought he was exaggerating.
But on Saturday here at the pocket-sized Eden Park, Pakistan’s fast bowlers flattened South Africa’s highly-rated batting line-up to help their side take a giant step towards securing a quarter-final berth in the 14-nation tournament.
Pakistan’s pace trio of Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali picked up three wickets apiece but the match-winning scalp of AB de Villiers went to Sohail Khan as Pakistan successfully defended a modest total of 222 that was revised to set Proteas a target of 232 in 47 overs because of rain. They won by 29 runs (D/L method).
De Villiers smashed 77 off 58 balls but even a player who is known as super-man in the cricket world could not take his team all the way against a pumped-up Pakistan team.
Buoyed up by the inclusion of Sarfraz Ahmed, who hit a vital 49 on World Cup debut as an opener and then equalled the world record for most catches in an ODI, Pakistan displayed purpose and intensity in what was a must-win game for them.
But there were pockets of concern for the Pakistanis including middle-order batting as they lost their last five wickets for just ten runs.
But such concerns were brushed aside for the moment as Pakistan celebrated their biggest win of the tournament so far.
And among their biggest heroes was Sarfraz, a man in whom the national team management had shown little faith before Saturday’s game.
Sarfraz blunted South Africa’s potent pace attack as he hit three sixers and five fours in a run-a-ball 49 at the top of the order.
Younis Khan, too, made his presence felt with a 44-ball 37 that helped Pakistan get a rare, good start.
Misah-ul-Haq then hit his fourth fifty in five World Cup matches to once again act as glue for an otherwise brittle batting line-up.
Pakistan’s captain did consume 37 dot balls but his 86-ball 56 was one of the chief reasons why they managed to bring some sort of respectability to their total.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, there were plenty of thrills and drama. Steyn’s stunning catch that dismissed Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz’s valuable 49 that included three sixes in an over, Hashim Amla’s cameo of 38 punctuated by nine sweetly-timed fours and Pakistan’s brilliant show with the ball.
Earlier after being asked to bat, Pakistan could have posted a much bigger total but their batsman failed to capitalise on some good starts. There was a lack of partnerships with the second wicket stand of 62 involving Sarfraz and Younis being the highest.
The other partnerships were of 30 (Sarfraz-Shehzad), 40 (Younis-Misbah) and 24 (Misbah-Umar Akmal).
Pakistan began with their best start at this World Cup yet when Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz put on 30 for the first wicket. Ahmed (18 off 30 balls) threw away a perfect opportunity to score big as he mistimed a chip off Kyle Abbott and watched helplessly as Steyn took a breathtaking catch running towards long on.
Sarfraz squandered a perfect chance to score fifty on debut as he went for a very difficult second run after hitting Imran Tahir through backward square leg. He sprinted to save his life but David Miller’s clean piece of work meant that he had to walk back to the dressing room after an impressive run-a-ball 49. He hit five fours and three sixers that were all hit in one JP Duminy over.
Younis fell to a soft dismissal as he tried to hit de Villiers through mid-on only to produce a leading edge caught comfortably by Rossouw.
Sohaib Maqsood (8 off 16 balls) didn’t last much long as he showed little footwork as he hit Abbott straight to Rossouw at backward point, leaving Pakistan at 154-4. Umar Akmal (13 off 20) followed in Sohaib’s footsteps after getting undone by extra bounce that Morkel managed to extract from an otherwise flattish Auckland pitch.
His departure left veterans Misbah and Shahid Afridi to lift Pakistan’s total in the final overs. Afridi did hit two sixes and a four in his cameo of 15-ball 22 but it wasn’t enough. He belted Steyn for a six and went for another one only to top edge it to Duminy at deep square leg.
Wahab tried to sweep Imran Tahir off the first ball he faced and was trapped LBW. The next to go was Misbah as he failed to negotiate a shorter one from Steyn and was caught by Morkel at third man. With Misbah gone it was only a matter of time before the Proteas finished off the tail.
Score Board
South Africa won toss
Pakistan
†Sarfraz Ahmed run out 49
Ahmed Shehzad c Steyn b Abbott 18
Younis Khan c Rossouw b de Villiers 37
*Misbah c Morkel b Steyn 56
Sohaib Maqsood c Rossouw b Abbott 8
Umar Akmal c de Villiers b Morkel 13
Shahid Afridi c Duminy b Steyn 22
Wahab Riaz lbw b I Tahir 0
Sohail Khan c Duminy b Morkel 3
Rahat Ali c I Tahir b Steyn 1
M Irfan not out 1
Extras (lb 7, w 6, nb 1) 14
Total (all out; 46.4 overs) 222
Fall: 1-30, 2-92, 3-132, 4-156, 5-175, 6-212, 7-212, 8-218, 9-221, 10-222
Bowling: Steyn 10-3-30-3 (1w); Abbott 9-0-45-2 (1w); Morkel 9.4-0-25-2 (1nb); I Tahir 9-1-38-1; de Villiers 6-0-43-1 (1w); Duminy 3-0-34-0 (2w)
South Africa
†Q de Kock c Sarfraz b Irfan 0
H M Amla c Sarfraz b Wahab 38
F du Plessis c Sarfraz b Rahat 27
R R Rossouw c Sohail b Wahab 6
*A B de Villiers c Sarfraz b Sohail 77
D A Miller lbw b Rahat 0
J P Duminy c Wahab b Irfan 12
D W Steyn c Sarfraz b Irfan 16
K J Abbott c Younis b Rahat 12
M Morkel not out 6
I Tahir c Sarfraz b Wahab 0
Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8
Total (all out; 33.3 overs) 202
Fall: 1-0, 2-67, 3-67, 4-74, 5-77, 6-102, 7-138, 8-172, 9-200, 10-202
Bowling: Irfan 8-0-52-3; Sohail 5-0-36-1 (4w); Rahat 8-1-40-3 (1w); Shahid 5-0-28-0; Wahab 7.3-2-45-3 (2w)
Result: Pakistan won by 29 runs (D/L method)
Points: Pakistan 2, South Africa 0
Man of the Match: Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan)
Umpires: R A Kettleborough (England) and B N J Oxenford (Australia). TV umpire: C B Gaffaney. Match referee: B C Broad (England)