This is why, we are called unpredictable…

Photo Credit: CricNama

I’m feeling over the moon as I writing these lines after Pakistan’s 29 runs important win over South Africa. What a day it was for the Pakistani cricket fans. I mean started the day with two changes in the playing eleven, including out of form Younas Khan instead unfit Haris Sohail and wicket keeper batsman Sarfaz Ahmad in for opening batsman Nasir Jamshed. Who would assume then that this playing eleven can beat South Africa, one of the best sides in the WC, 2015? As a team Pakistan supporter, I felt that we were playing a gamble. But at the end of day, these both changes proved useful for team Pakistan, as Younas Khan picked an outstanding catch in the ending session of innings after scoring adequate 37 runs off 44 balls with 4 fours. If I talk about the other change i.e. Sarfaraz Ahmad, what a cricketer he is. I mean coming up in the order as an opening batsman and scoring run a ball 49 runs inning, he not broke the all-time national record of taking six catches behind the stumps but also won the man of the math prize in his WC debut match.

If we talk about the match as a whole, it was a nice and composed performance by team Pakistan’s top order. Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ahmad Shahzad, Younas Khan and Misbah ul Haq contributed 49, 18, 37 and 56 runs respectively. In the middle order Sohaib Maqsoob, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi, though showed some good hands, but couldn’t manage to get over 8, 13 and 22 runs respectively. Pakistan’s innings ended with rather poor performance of the tail ender players in the 47^th over. At this stage rain delayed the match a bit and by D/L method, SA were put to chase 232 runs in 47 overs.

Just when South Africa’s innings started, Quenton De Cock couldn’t manage to get his form back and get out on the second delivery of Muhammad Irfan. Hasham Amla and F du Plessis showed some good hands to get 38 and 27 respectively. R Rossouw couldn’t maintain his form and got out at just 6 runs on 9 balls. South African lower middle order and tail enders just couldn’t resist too much against Pakistani seam attack. A B de Villiers was the only batsman to score 77 runs with 7 fours and 5 huge sixes. He was the only man who tried his best to pull this match off from Pakistan’s jaws. As Sohail Khan dismissed A B de Villiers, there was no one to score other 32 runs for the South Africa. South African team was all out in the 34 over at just 202 runs and Pakistan won the contest by 29 runs.