Pakistan Keeps Their Semi Final Hopes Alive After Defeating South Africa

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Pakistan Keeps Their Semi Final Hopes Alive After Defeating South Africa
Pakistan Keeps Their Semi Final Hopes Alive After Defeating South Africa

After winning the toss, Pakistan batsmen did a reasonable job of seeing off the new balls and then consolidated in the middle order and teed off at the death. And With the ball, Mohammad Amir found his mojo while Wahab Riaz and Shadab Khan shares the spoils with 3 wickets each.

The Proteas never had a player who can take that anchor role. Except for skipper Faf knock of 63 and Quinton’s 47 none of the batsmen had a good knock. They were lacking that one match-winning knock from the experienced South African batsmen.

South Africa is now officially eliminated, becoming the second team after Afghanistan to be out of contention for the semi-finals.

Sarfaraz Ahmed | Pakistan Captain:

Credits the win to a team effort. Praises Babar Azam and then Haris Sohail. On being asked why Sohail was not played earlier, Ahmed says that team combination did not allow them to field him. Compares his innings of today to Jos Buttler’s heroics at the death. Admits that the fielding was very poor and they have to work very hard and sort out these things. Praises all the bowlers – first Amir for setting things up with the new ball, then Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim in the middle and Shaheen Afridi in the remaining part.

Faf du Plessis | South African Captain:

We did not play good cricket at all in this tournament. Adds that even in this game, the new-ball bowlers did not get off to a good start and allowed Pakistan to run away with the game. Says that 300 on this wicket was a bit too much. On the batting department, du Plessis says that lack of partnerships was the key but puts it down mainly to lack of confidence within the group. On Imran Tahir, Faf says that the leggie was exceptional, leading the attack consistently but rues the fact that there have not been enough guys like him. On the biggest downside, du Plessis says that South Africa is not playing like South Africa, letting themselves down in terms of skill set.

Haris Sohail | MAN OF THE MATCH:

He says it is tough when you are sitting out and waiting for an opportunity but was eager to play and grab the opportunity he gets. Ends by saying when he went to bat, he was told to build a partnership with Azam, things were not easy but he backed himself and it all went well

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