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19 March 2024

Champions Trophy SA v PAK: South Africa beat Pakistan by 67 runs

Published
By Staff with Agencies

South Africa, the pre-tournament favourites, recorded their first win of the Champions Trophy with a 67-run victory over Pakistan in Group B at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday.

Both sides lost their opening matches in the eight-nation competition in which the top two teams from each group go through to next week's semi-finals.

Pakistan, set 235 to win, lost wickets regularly and fell steadily behind the required run rate on a slow pitch, eventually succumbing for 167 all out from 45 overs.

Pakistan's 39-year-old captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who notched his highest one-day score of 96 not out in the two-wicket loss to West Indies last Friday, did his best to rally his side with 55 from 75 balls but got little support from the other batsmen.

South Africa's 234 for nine off their 50 overs was anchored by Hashim Amla, who profited from a dropped catch before he reached double figures and went on to score 81.

After AB de Villers had won the toss and elected to bat, Amla was dropped on seven when he slashed a short delivery from Mohammad Irfan to backward point.

Umar Amin, who had replaced Asad Shafiq in the Pakistan team, got the fingertips of his left hand to the ball but could not hold on to the chance.

Amla and Colin Ingram took the total to 53 in the 15th over when the latter was dismissed lbw by off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 20 trying to sweep.

Faf du Plessis was caught for 28 off Irfan and Amla fell at the start of the second powerplay when a reverse sweep off spinner Saeed Ajmal lobbed to Hafeez at short third man. His innings had lasted 97 balls and included nine boundaries.

MISBAH RUNOUTS

The pressure on South Africa increased when Pakistan captain Misbah belied his age with consecutive runouts.

Misbah first raced to the bowler's end to whip the bails off when De Villiers slipped while trying to make his ground after he had been sent back by JP Duminy.

He then threw down the stumps at the bowler's end from short mid-wicket when it was Duminy's turn to slip after he was sent back.

Misbah was in the action again when he dived to his left in the covers to catch David Miller and there were two further runouts as the South Africans tried to accelerate.

Pakistan failed to get a good start, losing three batsmen in single figures, while opener Nasir Jamshed needed 76 deliveries to reach 42.

They took the second powerplay after 34 overs, the signal for Misbah to accelerate.

However, he ran out of partners with the potentially dangerous Kamran Akmal falling for a duck, brilliantly caught by Faf du Plessis falling to his left at backward point.

Misbah was caught by Amla at mid-wicket off Lonwabo Tsotsobe and with his departure Pakistan's faint victory hopes disappeared.

South Africa will be particularly pleased with their pace bowling in the absence through injury of their two premier fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

Morkel will play no further part in the tournament but de Villiers said Steyn would probably be fit for Friday's game against West Indies in Cardiff.

Ryan McLaren was the pick of the bowlers with four for 19 while Tsotsobe returned the miserly figures of two for 23 from nine overs. Chris Morris, making his international 50 overs debut as the replacement for Morkel, took two for 25 from seven.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

South Africa crushed Pakistan by 67 runs in a crunch Champions Trophy Group B day-night match at Edgbaston on Monday.

Chasing a target of 235, Pakistan were never in the hunt being bowled out for 167 in the 45th over to dash their hopes of qualifying to the semifinals.

They managed only 18 for the loss of two wickets in the mandatory Powerplay overs.

Nasir Jamshed batted with some fluency scoring 42 off 76 ball with four hits to the ropes.

Skipper Misbah ul Haq kept alive their hopes with a battling half century hitting three boundaries and a six in his knock of 55.

But with the asking rate mounting, Pakistan faced a Herculean task and perished in search of quick runs.

Ryan McLaren caused the most damage returning excellent figures of 8-3-19-4 while Tsotsobe and Morris claimed two wickets apiece.

McLaren claims his fourth wicket bowling Junaid Khan with a stunner as Pakistan are bowled out for 167 in 45 overs.

Junaid Khan b McLaren 4 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan crash to 167-9 as Ajmal perishes.

Saeed Ajmal c Ingram b McLaren 5 (5b 1x4 0x6)

Pakistan are 167-8 in 44 overs and need 68 for victory.

Pakistan are 163-8 in 43 overs and need 72 for victory.

Riaz smashes consecutive boundaries off Phangiso but is bowled attempting a reverse sweep. Pak 162-8.

Wahab Riaz b Phangiso 13 (12b 2x4 0x6)

Ajmal hits a boundary off Tsotsobe. Pakistan are 152-7 in 42 overs with 83 needed for victory.

Misbah is gone hitting straight Amla at midwicket off Tsotsobe. Pak 148-7.

Misbah-ul-Haq c Amla b Tsotsobe 55 (75b 3x4 1x6)

Pakistan are 147-6 in 41 overs with 88 needed for victory.

Misbah makes his intentions clear blasting the first six of the innings off Peterson. Pak 141-6 in 40 overs.

Pakistan fared slightly better than South Africa in the Batting Powerplay scoring 28 for the loss of two wickets. Pak  134-6 oin 39 overs.

Faf du Plessis takes a brilliant catch at point to dismiss Akmal for a duck. Pak 134-6.

Kamran Akmal c du Plessis b McLaren 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah continues to attack flicking McLaren to behind square leg.

Pakistan are in deep trouble as Amin perishes miscuing a shot. Pak 129-5.

Umar Amin c Ingram b McLaren 16 (29b 1x4 0x6)

Amin smashes a boundary off Morris who gives away seven runs in the fourth Powerplay over. Pak 128-4 in 38 overs.

McLaren gives away just four runs in the third Powerplay over. Pak 121-4 in 37 overs.

A big over for Pakistan as Misbah finishes with a boundary off Morris after Amin began with four leg byes. Pak 117-4 in 36 overs.

Misbah and Amin manage to get a single each of the first Powerplay over bowled by McLaren. Pak 108-4 in 35 overs.

Pakistan have decided to take the Batting Powerplay in the 35th over. Pak 106-4 in 34 overs.

The 100 of the Pakistan's finally comes in the 33rd over. Pak 102-4 in 33 overs.

Tsotsobe takes the big wicket of Jamshed as struggling Pakistan suffer a major blow. Pak 86-4.

Nasir Jamshed c and b Tsotsobe 42 (76b 4x4 0x6)

Misbah gets into his stride slogging Duminy over midwicket for his first boundary. Pak 72-3 in 24 overs.

Jamshed manages to find the boundaries smashing Duminy past midwicket. Pak 62-3 in 22 overs.

Malik's laboured knocks comes to an end as Duminy bowls him off an edge as the batsman stretches forward and gets an edge. Pak 48-3.

Shoaib Malik b Duminy 8 (29b 0x4 0x6)

Jamshed breaks the shackles lofting Phangiso over mid-off for a boundary. Pak 47-2 in 17 overs.

Jamshed hits a much needed boundary for Pakistan pulling McLaren to the long leg fence. Pak 35-2 in 14 overs.

McLaren also bowls a maiden over as Pakistan struggle. Pak 27-2 in 12 overs.

Tsotsobe bowls a maiden overs. Pak 18-2.

Pakistan are in trouble as Hafeez miscues a short delivery from Morris to Miller at square leg. Pak 18-2.

Mohammad Hafeez c Miller b Morris 7 (21b 0x4 0x6)

Jamshed hits the first boundary of the innings in the eighth over clipping a rare loose ball from Morris to square leg.

Morris draws first blood in the second over of the innings bowling Farhat. Pak 4-1.

Imran Farhat b Morris 2 (9b 0x4 0x6) 

Tsotsobe to open the attack as Jamshed takes first strike as Pakistan begin their run-chase.

SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

 

Hashim Amla profited from a dropped catch before he had reached double figures to score 81 in South Africa's 234 for nine from their 50 overs in the Champions Trophy Group B match at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday.



Both teams were under pressure after losing their opening matches and a second defeat would almost certainly mean they could not reach the semi-finals.



South Africa captain AB de Villers won the toss and Amla had scored only seven when he slashed a short delivery from Mohammad Irfan to backward point.



Umar Amin, who had replaced Asad Shafiq in the Pakistan team, got the fingertips of his left hand to the ball but could not hold on to the chance.



Amla and Colin Ingram took the total to 53 in the 15th over when the latter was dismissed lbw by off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 20 trying to sweep.



Faf du Plessis was caught for 28 off Irfan and Amla fell at the start of the second powerplay when a reverse sweep off spinner Saeed Ajmal lobbed to Hafeez at short third man. His innings had lasted 97 balls and included nine boundaries.



The pressure on South Africa increased when Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq effected consecutive runouts.



Misbah first raced to the bowler's end to whip the bails off when De Villiers slipped while trying to make his ground after he had been sent back by JP Duminy.



He then threw down the stumps at the bowler's end from short mid-wicket when it was Duminy's turn to slip after he was sent back.



The 39-year-old Pakistani was in the action again when he dived to his left in the covers to catch David Miller and there were two further runouts as the South Africans tried to accelerate.

A Phangiso run out 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)

Morris is run out backing up at the non-striker's end. SA 234-8.

C Morris run out 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah takes a well judged catch to dismiss Miller who added 28 runs in 20 balls with Peterson. SA 231-7.

D Miller c Misbah-ul-Haq b Junaid Khan 19 (24b 2x4 0x6)

Peterson hits a couple of boundaries off Junaid as South Africa attempt to finish with a flourish. SA 227-6 in 49 overs.

Pakistan keep pegging away as Malik traps McLaren leg before. SA 203-6.

R McLaren lbw b Shoaib Malik 4 (8b 0x4 0x6)

South Africa suffers a major blow as Duminy is run out and also injures his wrist coming in the line of the direct hit. SA 195-5 in 43 overs. 

JP Duminy run out 24 (38b 1x4 0x6)

AB de Villiers is run out after a mix-up with Duminy after having added 41 runs. SA 186-4.

AB de Villiers run out 31 (31b 1x4 1x6)

AB de Villiers and JP Duminy have set up South Africa for a perfect assault in the final 10 overs. SA 183-3 in 40 overs.

South Africe manage just 19 runs for the loss of Amla in the batting Powerplay overs. SA 163-3 in 36 overs.

Ajmal strikes in the first over of the batting Powerplay as Hafeez takes a diving catch off Amla who perishes attempting a reverse sweep. SA 145-3.

H Amla c Mohammad Hafeez b Saeed Ajmal 81 (97b 9x4 0x6)

South Africa have decided to take the batting Powerplay early.

AB de Villiers slams the first six of the match hoisting Shoaib Malik over mid wicket. SA 144-2 in 31 overs.

Amla seems to be unstoppable slashing a widish delivery from Irfan to the third man fence. SA 132-2 in 29 overs.

Faf du Plessis departs miscuing a pull shot and lobbing a simple catch off Irfan after adding 69 runs for the second wicket with Amla. SA 122-1.

F du Plessis c Shoaib Malik b Mohammad Irfan 28 (40b 2x4 0x6)

Faf sweeps Ajmal for a boundary as South Africa get on top of the Pakistan attack. SA 122-1 in 28 overs.

Faf hits his first boundary slamming Hafeez through mid-off to bring up the 100 of the innings. SA 105-1 in 25 overs.

Amla is on a roll getting his eighth this time off a reverse sweep off Ajmal. SA 96-1 in 24 overs.

Amla completes his 20th ODI half century with a couple off Ajmal.

His knock contained seven hits to the fence. SA 85-1 in 22 overs.

Ajmal comes into the attack for the first time with South Africa on 82-1 after 21 overs.

Amla continues to bat aggressively dominating the Pakistan attack as nears a half century hitting another boundary off Riaz. SA 78-1 in 20 overs.

Amla gets another boundary although living dangerously via an outside edge off Hafeez past the vacant slip. SA 64-1 in 17 overs.

Hafeez gets a breakthrough striking in his third over trapping Ingram leg before. SA 53-1.

C Ingram lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 20 (45b 2x4 0x6)

Amla steers Riaz with a classic shot past point to bring up the 50 of the innings. SA 52-0 in 14 overs.

Amla gets a streaky boundary off the first delivery from Riaz nearly being bowled off an inside edge. SA 43-0 in 12 overs.

Spin has been introduced for the first time after 10 overs with Hafeez coming into the attack.

South Africa have made slow but steady progress at the end of the mandatory Powerplay overs reaching 36 without loss.

Amla slams a couple of boundaries off Junaid Khan on the leg side. SA 28-0 in 8 overs.

Ingram gets his first boundary pulling Junaid Khan to square leg.

Amla hits the first boundary of the match punching Irfan past backward point and is dropped by Umar Amin three balls later.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bat in the Champions Trophy Group B day-night clash at Edgbaston on Monday.

MATCH PREVIEW

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq tried to take the pressure off his side by insisting a 'do or die' Champions Trophy clash against South Africa was nothing new for the team.

Both sides need to win Monday's day/night clash at Edgbaston if they are to have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals of a tournament for the world's top eight one-day nations.

Pakistan suffered a two-wicket loss against the West Indies in their low-scoring Group B opener at The Oval on Friday, a day after South Africa went down by 26 runs against India in Cardiff.

Monday's match is also nicely set-up in that the strength of South Africa, set to be without both their injured quicks Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, now appears to be their batting with Pakistan's trump card their bowling attack.

In March, South Africa beat Pakistan 3-2 in a home one-day series but only after Misbah's men levelled at 2-2.

"It's not a new story for us," Misbah told reporters at Edgbaston on Sunday.

"In South Africa, we were in a similar situation like that in the ODI series, when we had to win the fourth ODI and our team did exceptionally well with that.

"The best thing you can do is to take it game by game, and tomorrow is a game and you just need to win that."

Against the West Indies, only Misbah -- with a career-best 96 not out -- and opener Nasir Jamshed (50) made it into double figures.

The 39-year-old Misbah said he did not mind shouldering the burden but was understandably keen for the rest of the top order to get runs.

"This is a trend of passing teams over the years. I think before it was Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf.

"So, as a senior player, you have to take the responsibility, but it's really good if some of the other guys come to the party and do their job."

But the saving grace for Pakistan against the West Indies was the performance of a bowling attack that so nearly pulled what would have been an extraordinary victory given they had so few runs to defend.

The towering Mohammad Irfan (three for 32) and fellow left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz (two for 42) both posed problems, the pair the latest models off Pakistan's now seemingly inexhaustible production line of fast bowlers.

There was a time when Pakistan, in common with the rest of the sub-continent, was regarded as a 'graveyard' for fast bowlers but Misbah said the tough conditions, which led Imran Khan, and later Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, to develop reverse swing, had created a special breed of pacemen

"Maybe genetically people are a bit stronger, maybe the conditions because it's not conducive for seam bowling there

"It's really hard work there in Pakistan. If you want to be a fast bowler, you really need to be hard working, you need a bit of pace there. So maybe that helps people to just bowl a bit quicker than other parts of the world."

Steyn set to miss Pakistan clash

South Africa are set to to be without Dale Steyn once again at the Champions Trophy when they face Pakistan at Edgbaston on Monday.

Steyn, widely regarded as the best fast bowler currently in world cricket, missed the Proteas' opening 26-run Group B defeat by India in Cardiff on Thursday with a side strain.

And South Africa captain AB de Villiers, speaking to reporters at Edgbaston on Sunday, was pessimistic about Steyn's chances of facing Pakistan.

"The final decision hasn't been made yet, but it's not looking good," de Villiers said. "The chances are he'll only be ready for the last one (South Africa's final group match against the West Indies in Cardiff on June 14).

"We are still hanging on to that last little bit of hope he could wake up tomorrow (Monday) morning and do a bit of a fitness test and look good for the game, but it's not looking good at all."

South Africa's fast bowling resources were further depleted when Morne Morkel, who limped off while bowling his seventh over against India, was ruled out of the tournament with a leg injury.

India capitalised to pile up 331 for seven but South Africa gave them a scare before falling short in a daunting chase.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said South Africa remained a strong side even without their two premier fast bowlers.

"They won a game against us when both  Steyn and Morkel weren't playing in South Africa," Misbah said.

"They are a quality side, and at the moment their strength is their batting, so we just can't relax. I think we need to really play well, really give a 100 percent, and then we have a good chance."

The Proteas have called up Chris Morris, a 26-year-old seamer who has played two Twenty20 matches for South Africa, but has yet to appear in a one-day international, as Morkel's replacement.

And de Villiers, having seen the way in which England beat Australia by 48 runs in a Group A encounter at Edgbaston on Sunday, reckoned pace was still the way forward.

"It looked a similar kind of wicket to the one we'll be playing on. The one spinner for England, (James) Tredwell bowled really well but it was the seamers, who started reversing the ball, who really restricted the batters and made them look like they can't get it off the square."

The wicketkeeper-batsman added now was the not the time for the Proteas to change tactics.

"We are not going to change too much. I very well remember the 2007 World Cup (in the West Indies) where we played Australia in the semi-finals and tried to change strategy.

"We tried to take it to them and the next minute we were 20 for five.

"We are going to stick to our game plans. We believe if we play to our full potential, we believe we can beat any team here."

Monday's match is effectively a must-win clash for both sides after Pakistan suffered a two-wicket defeat in a low-scoring affair with the West Indies at The Oval on Friday.

Despite being dismissed for just 170, Pakistan's bowlers nearly guided their side to an improbable win in south London.

"We are well aware of the Pakistani bowling attack, they are a very good bowling attack," said de Villiers.

"We are up against a very good team who can beat any team in this tournament. But we are playing some good cricket and we are confident we can beat them tomorrow (Monday)."