Highlights, Pakistan vs South Africa, 2019 World Cup: Clinical Pakistan beat South Africa by 49 runs
Highlights, Pakistan vs South Africa, 2019 World Cup: Pakistan still has a chance to climb the standings to the semifinal positions, even though it's a long shot. After South Africa, the Pakistanis play New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Of all four opponents, only Afghanistan is below them. "Pakistan plays better under pressure," fast bowler Wahab Riaz says. To soothe critical fans at home after the demoralizing defeat to India last Sunday, he adds, "We will qualify for the semifinals." Unlike Pakistan, South Africa is all but out. It was telling that after losing to New Zealand on Wednesday and told by a journalist his side was still in semifinals contention, captain Faf du Plessis said, "Are we?" South Africa would have to win its three remaining games against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and defending champion Australia and hope a lot of other teams don't win a bunch of games, including top-four sides New Zealand, England and India. (When and Where to Watch - PAK vs SA) (Match Scorecard)
Pakistan beat South Africa by 49 runs
* Pakistan are alive. This was the 'other' Pakistan which turned up today. They batted responsibly, piled on a big score and then bowled well to defend the total.
23.00 IST: Mohammad Amir to Andile Phehlukwayo, A single to finish! A full toss on the pads, Phehlukwayo hits it towards deep mid-wicket for one. PAKISTAN WIN BY 49 RUNS!
22.55 IST: Mohammad Amir to Andile Phehlukwayo, Safe! Slower one on off, Phehlukwayo lofts it over the bowler's head. Long on runs to his right and cuts it down. Two taken.
* Imran Tahir is the last man in!
22.51 IST: Wahab Riaz to Lungi Ngidi, OUT! This is why he wanted to get off strike! Wahab is just too good for him. Wahab lands this one middle and gets it to straighten.
22.46 IST: Mohammad Amir to Andile Phehlukwayo, FOUR! Poor effort in the field! Very full and outside off, Phehlukwayo jams it through backward point. Afridi runs to his left from third man, dives and looks to push it back in but does not do it convincingly and the ball rolls back onto the fence.
* Lungi Ngidi walks out to bat.
22.42 IST: Wahab Riaz to Kagiso Rabada, OUT! Full, straight and Wahab has knocked Rabada over! Too good this for the no. 9. This starts from outside off and then it tails back in. Rabada misses his drive and the middle stump is disturbed.
22.37 IST: Mohammad Amir to Andile Phehlukwayo, FOUR! Fine shot. A short ball, around off, Phehlukwayo pulls it over mid-wicket, one bounce and into the ropes!
22.35 IST: Mohammad Amir to Andile Phehlukwayo, Full and outside off, slower in pace, Phehlukwayo swings hard but the ball goes off the inside edge past the stumps towards fine leg. Just a single.
* Mohammad Amir is back on. 7-1-19-2 so far.
* Kagiso Rabada is the next batsman in.
22.30 IST: Wahab Riaz to Chris Morris, OUT! Waahab gets his first! He says, he needs no support from his fielders and he will do it by himself! A corker of a yorker there. It is right at the base of leg stump. Tails away. Morris fails to jam it out and he has to take the long walk back.
22.29 IST: Shadab Khan to Andile Phehlukwayo, FOUR! In the gap! Phehlukwayo brings out the slog sweep. Does not hit that well but away from the deep mid-wicket fielder who puts in a dive but does not get to it. Need another boundary in this over.
22.24 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Chris Morris, SIX! That is probably the shot of the day! Lovely extension of the arms and gets the desired result. Length and around off, Morris lofts it with the straight bat and it clears the long off fence. This is a big over and still a ball to go.
22.21 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Chris Morris, FOUR! Very clever shot! Slightly shorter and outside off, Morris clears his front leg but then realizes he does not need to swing hard. Just uses the pace and guides it over point for a boundary.
22.19 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Andile Phehlukwayo, FOUR! Inside edge! Length and around off, Andile Phehlukwayo looks to hit it through the off side but gets an inside edge which goes just past the leg stump and into the fine leg fence. 200 up for South Africa.
22.13 IST: Shaheen Afridi to David Miller, OUT! TIMBER! Game, set and match for Pakistan? Probably yes! Miller had to go for it, the run rate kept on increasing and he perishes in the attempt to do so. He takes a few steps down and Shaheen Afridi bowls it slightly shorter on middle. Miller looks to heave it but misses and the ball hits the top of leg stump.
22.09 IST: Shadab Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, OUT! Pakistan finally hang onto one. A very good catch this by Hafeez. Also, clever bowling from Shadab. He slows it up and bowls it outside off, it is the leg spinner. It pitches and turns away. Rassie looks to hit it against the spin, over the leg side but gets a top edge. It goes high in the air, so high that it probably has snow on it as it comes down. Sarfaraz goes for it and Hafeez from point is also interested. The latter calls for it, Sarfaraz lets it be and Mohammad takes it with a dive to his right.
* DRINKS BREAK! Are we onto something here? Or are we expecting a bit too much? Miller needs to play a blinder and has to get support from van der Dussen, Phehlukwayo and Morris. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be searching for reverse swing and shut this chase off.
21.42 IST: Wahab Riaz to David Miller, FOUR! Lovely stroke! Full and outside off, Miller makes room and also takes a few steps down the track, hits it hard through covers for a boundary. They need to keep going now. Run rate needed is almost 10.
21.38 IST: Mohammad Amir to Rassie van der Dussen, Another length ball around off, Rassie opens the face and guides it down to third man for one.
21.33 IST: Imad Wasim to David Miller, FOUR! Up and over! Miller uses his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. Picked his spot nicely. A much-needed boundary for South Africa. Also, ideal start to this over.
21.30 IST: Mohammad Amir to David Miller, A bumper on middle, Miller looks to pull but misses. Amir is appealing but the umpire shakes his head. Amir wants it to be reviewed but there are no reviews left. Replay shows there was nothing there.
21.28 IST: Mohammad Amir to David Miller, DROPPED! That was in and then it popped out as Amir fell onto the ground. This could prove a big, big miss! Back of a length on off, Miller looks to work it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat a touch early. It goes off the leading edge back to the bowler. Amir sticks one hand out, hangs onto the catch but as he falls onto the ground, the ball pops out.
* David Miller is the next batsman in.
21.22 IST: Mohammad Amir to Faf du Plessis, OUT! In the air... taken! Faf du Plessis is out of here and this is a body blow for South Africa. Their hopes of chasing this down has been dented big time here. Amir does what he was brought on for. Excellent bowling change from Pakistan. This is slightly short and angling away from off. The line was key as Faf looks to drag his shot on the leg side. All he manages is a top edge which goes high up in the air beside the wicket. Sarfaraz calls for it and makes no mistake.
21.17 IST: Imad Wasim to Rassie van der Dussen, Very full, almost a yorker, Rassie jams it down to long on for one. Just three from the over. Pakistan needed a tight one after an expensive last over.
21.12 IST: Shadab Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, DROPPED! Did he misjudge that or was he standing way too ahead? Not sure! A welcome boundary though for South Africa. This is tossed up on off, Rassie looks to go downtown but does not time it that well. It goes high up in the air towards long off where Amir is a touch inside the ropes. He runs to back and to his right, stretches his hands out but it brushes his fingers tips and goes into the fence.
21.10 IST: Imad Wasim to Rassie van der Dussen, That was a quick but a risky run! The short third man fielder was on his heels. This is flatter and around off, this is guided to that fielder and the batters take one.
21.07 IST: Shadab Khan to Faf du Plessis, Fifty for Faf du Plessis. Skipper, leading his team from the front in this important game but he needs to keep going. Still a long way to go. He gets there by hitting this full ball down to long on for one.
21.03 IST: Imad Wasim to Faf du Plessis, NOT OUT! There is Day/Light between bat and ball! Pakistan lose their only review. This is flatter outside off, it pitches and straightens. Faf looks to push it through the off side but misses. Sarfaraz takes it and makes a huge appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Even Sohail feels there is an edge and hence, Pakistan review. Ultra Edge shows nothing though.
* Rassie Van der Dussen is the new man in.
20.57 IST: Shadab Khan to Aiden Markram, OUT! KABOOM! Shadab gets another and Markram's poor World Cup continues. This was on the cards wasn't? He has always been shaky against spin and falls to a spinner.
20.51 IST: Shadab Khan to Faf du Plessis, The slider on middle, Faf stays back and pushes it towards cover for one.
20.48 IST: Imad Wasim to Aiden Markram, Flatter and outside off, Markram goes back and pushes it through covers for one.
* Aiden Markram walks in next at number 4, replacing de Kock.
20.42 IST: Shadab Khan to Quinton de Kock, OUT That is clean as a whistle! Important, important catch and a big, big wicket as de Kock just started to get going. Also, this partnership started to look very threatening. South Africa 91/2 in 19.2 overs
20.41 IST: Wahab Riaz to Quinton de Kock, SIX! Oh my word... what a shot. This is the de Kock we all know. Fractionally short in length, Quinton pounces on it, picks the length in a trice, swivels and pulls it over long leg!
20.39 IST: Wahab Riaz to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Nicely played. A low full toss outside off, de Kock reaches out and squeezes it behind point. The ball races away!
20.37 IST: Shadab Khan to Quinton de Kock, Plays the reverse sweep but can't beat the man at backward point. Wahab there moves to his left quickly and does not allow a single too.
* Drinks Break
20.31 IST: Wahab Riaz to Quinton de Kock, Swing and a miss! De Kock dances down the track and looks to go over mid-off but misses. He should have looked to hit it over covers. It was bowled outside off.
20.28 IST: Shadab Khan to Quinton de Kock, SIX! Out comes the slog sweep and it sails over the mid-wicket stand! De Kock's eyes lit up seeing the flight. He goes down on one knee and hits it over the ropes.
20.24 IST: Wahab Riaz to Quinton de Kock, Back of a length and closer to the off pole, de Kock once again hits it to point.
20.20 IST: Imad Wasim to Faf du Plessis, This is angled into the middle pole, Faf works it through square leg for one. So expect for the boundary. It was a top over from IW.
20.18 IST: Imad Wasim to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Up and over! Lovely strike! Imad floats this up outside off, de Kock goes down on one knee and lofts it over the cover region for a boundary. Good start to the over.
20.17 IST: Wahab Riaz to Quinton de Kock, A collision but no harm done! This is shorter and on middle, it hurries de Kock into his shot. De Kock mistimes it towards mid on. He sets off for a run. Faf too responds but he collides with Riaz. He keeps his balance though and gets to the other end. The mid on fielder did have a shy but it was a wild one which Ahmed dives to his left and collects it.
20.11 IST: Imad Wasim to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Poor ball with no protection in the deep on the off side! Full and outside off, de Kock strokes it through covers and bags a boundary. South Africa would hope this gets him going.
20.08 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! The outfield is lightning quick, you just need to get it past the fielder! Fuller on middle, Faf du Plessis works it wide of mid on and the ball races away.
20.05 IST: Imad Wasim to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! A boundary to end Powerplay 1! A welcome one. Faf du Plessis comes down the track and takes it on the full. He jams it past mid off and the ball races to the fence. 6 from the 10th. South Africa are 38 for 1 after Powerplay 1. Quite behind from what Pakistan were after their 0 overs.
19.59 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Faf du Plessis, DROPPED! A very tough chance! A good effort in the end by Shadab. Afridi bowls this fuller and it starts on middle, tails way a little. Faf looks to play it with a straight bat but it goes off the outer half to the left of point. Shadab there dives full stretch to his left, gets two hands to it but can't hang on. The batsmen take one.
19.58 IST: Mohammad Amir to Quinton de Kock, Bangs this one short and outside off, de Kock looks to pull but is hurried into the stroke. It goes towards mid on where the fielder makes a good stop diving to his right.
19.56 IST: Mohammad Amir to Quinton de Kock, Edge but a run! Amir is still getting the ball to do a bit. He lands it on a length and around off, it moves away late. De Kock looks to push at it but the ball goes off the outside edge and down to third man for one.
19.54 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Faf du Plessis, Lovely delivery! This starts around off and then tails away late. Faf does nothing wrong as he looks to defend the original trajectory but gets beaten due to the movement.
19.50 IST: Mohammad Amir to Quinton de Kock, Lovely fielding! Zaman is the fielder! A back of a length delivery by Amir outside off, Quinton punches it towards cover-point. Zaman there dives to his right and saves three for his side.
19.45 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! How many times have we seen the last ball spoil the over today? The idea was not wrong here from Afridi the length was a problem though. He looks to slant it across again but this time it is too full. Faf leans into it and creams it through covers. A boundary to start the over and one to end it.
19.42 IST: Shaheen Afridi to Faf du Plessis, FOUR! Lucky boundary! Afridi almost struck on his first ball too! This is short and there is width on offer, it skids through and also stays low. Faf goes after it but the ball hits the inside edge and goes close past the off pole and down to the fine leg fence.
* Shaheen Afridi is on now! So just the two overs for Hafeez.
19.39 IST: Mohammad Amir to Quinton de Kock, BEAUTY! Amir first angles this into the off pole which means the batsman has to play at it. De Kock does look to defend but the ball swings away and beats the outside edge.
19.37 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Quinton de Kock, Lovely shot and even better fielding! This is floated on off, QdK manages to find the gap through covers. Afridi from mid off hares after it, does not give up and at the very end pushes it back in. Saves a run for his side.
19.35 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Quinton de Kock, Gives it a lot of air. De Kock looks to hit it through covers with the turn but there is no spin. It goes off the inner half down to long on for one.
19.32 IST: Mohammad Amir to Faf du Plessis, WOW! Another jaffa! We haven't seen Amir bringing it back in too often in the World Cup but he is doing it today and looks deadly. This one starts on middle and jags back in sharply. Faf looks to flick but gets hit high on the pads. A huge appeal by the bowler again but this is surely missing the leg pole.
19.27 IST: Mohammad Amir to Hashim Amla, OUT! Three reds and Amla is a goner! Amir strikes on his his first ball itself! Excellent use of the technology.
* Mohammad Amir to bowl from the other end.
19.24 IST: Mohammad Hafeez to Quinton de Kock, DROPPED! The move to start with the offie almost paid off. A tough chance but that should have been taken. Hafeez tosses it up on middle, de Kock goes after the bowler straightaway, He looks to clear mid on but it goes off the inner half. Riaz there dives to his right but fails to hang on. The batters take one.
* We are back for the chase! The Pakistan players are in a huddle as the South African openers, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock walk past them. The Pakistan players now make their way to the middle. The right-hander will take strike and he will be facing a spinner first up, Mohammad Hafeez. Here we go...
18.51 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Shadab Khan, NOT OUT! Ngidi has not collected the ball which means a single to end Pakistan's innings! A tremendous last over by Ngidi. Just the 4 runs and two wickets from it. He bowls this on a length and around off, Shadab slaps it towards cover and takes off. The fielder there throws it to the bowler who fails to collect the ball and dislodges the bails with his hands. There is nobody appealing but the umpire takes it upstairs. After the replays, NOT OUT FLASHES ON THE BIG SCREEN! PAKISTAN FINISH ON 308!
18.48 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Haris Sohail, OUT! No ton for Sohail! But a knock which probably could make the difference. He walks off to a standing ovation and he deserves every bit of it.
18.47 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Sarfaraz Ahmed, No Hat-trick! It is the slower one, dipping onto the batsman. Sarfaraz works it through mid-wicket for one. Gets Sohail on strike who has 4 balls to get 12 runs for his ton.
18.45 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Wahab Riaz, OUT! TIMBER! Completely deceived there! Ngidi rolls his fingers on this delivery, lands it on off. Wahab is way too early in the shot. He misses the ball hits the top of middle. Ideal start to the last over for South Africa.
18.42 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Spoils the over somewhat! Lovely flick shot. This time he shuffles in. Rabada bowls it full and this is flicked over mid-wicket for a boundary.
* Wahab Riaz is out to bat now! He too can hit the ball long.
18.38 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imad Wasim, OUT! Good catch to end a brilliant, brilliant partnership for Pakistan! The duo have surely done their job. Imad uses his feet and looks to clear long off. Does not get under the ball though and hence the distance is not there. Duminy in the deep runs in and takes a good catch diving forward.
18.36 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imad Wasim, FOUR! Over the bowler's head! This time Ngidi does not get away with the full toss. It is outside off, Imad powers it over the bowler's head and bags a boundary.
18.31 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Imad Wasim, FOUR! Raining boundaries here! Imad makes room and Rabada follows him with a short ball. Imad helps it on its way and the ball races to the fine leg fence.
* Kagiso Rabada returns for some damage control. 8-0-47-0 so far.
18.27 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imad Wasim, Good fielding! Good team work! This is thumped down the ground towards long on. Morris there runs to his right and then dives, pushes it towards long off who picks it and throws it to the bowler. Two taken. The 50-run stand is up and it has come in only 26 balls. Due to this stand, something around 320 looks possible.
18.25 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Haris Sohail, SIX! Powered over the fence! A slower one by Ngidi but it is shorter in length. Sohail waits for it and powers it over the mid-wicket fence.
18.18 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Not off the middle but Sohail gets the desired result. Another slower one which is fuller in length. Haris looks to slog it but it goes off the inner half through mid-wicket. It is away from the fielder in the deep and it races to the fence. 16 from this over and 29 from the last two.
18.17 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Haris Sohail, SIX! Over the fielder! That has been misjudged horribly! Everything going wrong for South Africa at the moment. Phehlukwayo bowls it fuller and outside off, Sohail smashes it flat towards long off. Duminy there runs in but then realizes that the ball is going over him. Too late and it carries over the ropes.
18.15 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, FOUR! Straightaway goes for it and bags a boundary! Dances down the track and also makes room. Phehlukwayo lands it on a length and Imad crunches it through extra cover for a boundary.
18.13 IST: Chris Morris to Haris Sohail, Fifty for Sohail! This is some innings from him! He has come out and gone after the bowlers right from the word go and has turned the momentum in his side's favour with this knock. His 11th ODI fifty and he has announced his comeback in the team in style. He gets there by guiding this short ball wide of third man for a boundary.
18.10 IST: Chris Morris to Haris Sohail, FOUR LEG BYES! Poor bowling! Drifts it on the pads, Sohail looks to flick but misses. The ball brushes the pads and goes down to the fine leg fence.
18.06 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Deft! Lovely shot! This is on a length and around off, Sohail plays it very late, he manages to guide it very fine on the off side and third man has no chance.
18.04 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, OUT! Azam holes out! Phehlukwayo gets the big fish! Once again Azam does not covert his fifty. End of the stand that was looking very threatening. Andile goes full and outside off, Azma looks to go inside out but ends up hitting it a little too squarer than he would have liked. It goes straight to Ngidi at sweeper cover who makes no mistake.
17.51 IST: Imran Tahir to Haris Sohail, FOUR! A hat-trick of boundaries for Pakistan! Tossed up outside off, Sohail reaches out and drives it over covers for a boundary!
17.50 IST: Chris Morris to Babar Azam, FOUR! Full and down the leg side, Azam tickles it behind square leg and the ball races away! 11 from the over.
17.49 IST: Chris Morris to Babar Azam, FOUR! 200 up for Pakistan! Nicely done! On a length outside off, Azam waits for the ball to come to him and dabs it to the third man fence!
17.42 IST: Chris Morris to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Outstanding placement! Full and outside off, similar to the previous ball but this time Haris makes no mistake. He just angles his bat slightly and guides it behind point. Third man starts to run to his left but no use.
17.39 IST: Chris Morris to Babar Azam, FIFTY FOR BABAR AZAM! His 14th in ODIs, second this World Cup. He needs to bat through for Pakistan to get to a challenging total. Gets there with a punch through the covers for a single.
17.36 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Haris Sohail, SIX! SMOKED! Oh yeah. Sohail is in for some acceleration here. He anticipates the short delivery and moves down the leg side well in advance. With the room created, he then slashes it over point and the ball goes all the away!
17.34 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Haris Sohail, FOUR! Lovely shot. Bad ball though. With mid on up, Rabada pitches this very full and Haris calmly drives this straight back, beating mid on who was standing a bit wide as well.
17.32 IST: Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, FOUR! No stopping this one! Full and down the leg side, Babar tickles this past short fine leg. Kagiso Rabada gives it a chase once again but the ball is running down the hill. He puts in a despairing prematured dive but to no avail.
17.30 IST: Aiden Markram to Babar Azam, Full and outside off, nicely tossed up, driven sweetly but straight to short extra cover.
17.26 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Haris Sohail, FOUR! MAJESTIC! Did that have a Saeed Anwar touch to it? Perhaps. On a length outside off, Sohail comes half forward and just punches it on the up through the covers. The ball races away! Sohail moves to 10 from 5 balls.
* DRINKS BREAK. The game is in the balance right now. Pakistan got off to a terrific start but the three wickets have pegged them back. However, the run rate is pretty decent and if a set batsman stays till the end, they can still get to 275.
17.21 IST: Aiden Markram to Haris Sohail, Full and down the leg side, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. 150 UP FOR PAKISTAN. How much can they add in the remaining 19 overs? Is 275 a possibility?
17.18 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Babar Azam, Full and around off, Azam works it wide of mid on. Lungi Ngidi jogs after it and the batsmen complete three.
* Haris Sohail walks in.
17.14 IST: Aiden Markram to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT! Markram breaks the stand which was looking really promising! He provides the vital breakthrough. He is probably the last bowler who I thought would take a wicket for South Africa today.
17.09 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, Howzzat? The answer to that question is not out! This is angled into the batter, Hafeez looks to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. Andile appeals but the umpire shakes his head. Too high and also seems like it would slip down the leg side.
17.05 IST: Aiden Markram to Mohammad Hafeez, Good fielding! This is worked to the right of Andile at backward square leg. He slips initially but then throws himself onto the ground and stops it.
17.01 IST: Imran Tahir to Babar Azam, Flatter and on middle, Azam pushes it past the diving bowler and down to mid on for one.
16.58 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, This is on the pads, Hafeez looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls to the left of de Kock who moves there and stops it.
16.55 IST: Imran Tahir to Mohammad Hafeez, NOT OUT! That is going over! South Africa lose their review! Good decision by the umpire! This is bowled slower on middle, Hafeez looks to slog sweep again but misses. It hits him on the stomach area. Tahir is pleading but the umpire shakes his head. The leggie wants it to be reviewed. Faf does so. Replays roll in and they show it to be going over.
* Is that a wicket? Tahir is adamant that Hafeez is LBW. Umpire Dharmasena shakes his head though and South Africa want a review. Looks high to the naked eye.
16.53 IST: Imran Tahir to Mohammad Hafeez, SIX! Just over the ropes! Almost a replica there of how he got out to Finch. A full toss on middle, Hafeez, like he did against Australia, brings out the slog sweep. He hits it towards deep square leg and clears the leaping Ngidi there.
16.49 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, FOUR! Fortunate boundary but that is a poor, poor ball! Short and wide outside off, asking to be hit. Azam goes back and throws his bat at it. The ball goes off the outside edge and down to the third man fence.
16.48 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Babar Azam, Shorter in length and outside off, this is hit down to third man for another single. Runs coming easily after the fall of the wicket.
16.45 IST: Imran Tahir to Mohammad Hafeez, DROPPED! De Kock is the culprit! That should have been taken! This is flatter and around off, Hafeez goes back and looks to play it late, down towards third man. The ball goes off the outside edge and hits the glove of de Kock who can't hang onto it. A life for Hafeez. He would be eager to make it count.
16.42 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Babar Azam, FOUR! This is even better! WOW! Delightful stuff from Azam. Ngidi goes fuller this time, Azam shows he can hit boundaries off the front foot too. He just times it past mid on and the ball races away to the fence.
16.40 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Babar Azam, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! This is bowled halfway down the wicket, it does not bounce at the height Ngidi would have wanted it to. Azam goes back and pulls it with ease through mid-wicket for a boundary.
* Mohammad Hafeez is the new batsman in.
16.33 IST: Imran Tahir to Imam-ul-Haq, OUT! WHAT A CATCH THAT IS! An absolute stunner from Imran Tahir. It is still difficult to believe this guy is a 40-year old. There, he showed reflexes of an 18 year old. Absolutely magnificent.
16.31 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Babar Azam, FOUR! Cracking shot. Short of a length outside off, Babar cuts it through point and the ball races away!
16.28 IST: Imran Tahir to Babar Azam, Plenty of loop on this one, Babar drives this back to the bowler.
16.25 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Babar Azam, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
16.21 IST: Imran Tahir to Imam-ul-Haq, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
16.18 IST: Chris Morris to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Shot. Full on middle, Imam flicks this through mid-wicket and beats mid on running to his left.
16.10 IST: Imran Tahir to Fakhar Zaman, OUT c Hashim Amla b Imran Tahir. Pakistan have lost their first wicket.
16.09 IST: Imran Tahir to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! MAGNIFICENT! Tahir is welcomed in style. Full and outside off, Zaman leans and drives it through the covers or a boundary!
16.05 IST: Chris Morris to Fakhar Zaman, Outside off, Zaman looks to punch it through the off side but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. Not far from the stumps.
16.00 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Fakhar Zaman, Full and outside off, Zaman pushes it towards mid off, takes the fielder on and completes a quick single. Direct hit at the bowler's end might have made things interesting.
15.54 IST: Chris Morris to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! SMASH! Insult to injury! A short ball again, around off, Zaman swivels once more and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary!
15.52 IST: Chris Morris to Fakhar Zaman, SAFE! Tahir has taken the catch but then put it down. A short ball, around off, Zaman swivels and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. Imran Tahir runs to his right and claims the catch. But the batsman is going nowhere. Even the bowler is not sure.
* That is a stunning catch! Or is it? Imran Tahir is claiming a catch at deep mid-wicket and is celebrating but Morris himself is not sure. The Proteas are running towards Tahir who is already into his 1000 m marathon but Morris looks bemused. The batsman is going nowhere and the umpires get together and refer it upstairs. The soft signal is NOT OUT. Here come the replays. Looks like Tahir has taken it but then dropped it.
15.48 IST: Andile Phehlukwayo to Fakhar Zaman, Full and outside off, angling in and then swinging away, Fakhar plays a loose-looking cover drive and is beaten.
15.44 IST: Chris Morris to Imam-ul-Haq, A dot to end! Shorter and on middle, Imam hops and works it to mid-wicket. Just three from the over and 4 from the last two. Still Pakistan have dominated the first 10. They are 58 for no loss after it.
15.40 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, Rabada does end it very well! He goes slightly fuller this time around off, it moves away a little. Imam plays inside the line and gets beaten.
15.34 IST: Chris Morris to Imam-ul-Haq, EDGED AND FOUR! Between the keeper and Amla who is standing at a widish second slip fielder. Length and around off, Imam pushes hard at it. He ends up playing inside the line. The ball goes off the inside edge and down to the third man fence.
15.32 IST: Chris Morris to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Welcome into the attack, Morris! The 50 is up for Pakistan. They could not have asked for a better start after electing to bat. Morris starts with a full ball on off, Imam just puts bat to ball, uses the pace of the bowler and hits it through mid off for a boundary.
15.28 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Fakhar Zaman, Good finish to the over this time! On a length and around off, blocked. Just the two from the over. South Africa need a few more of such overs.
15.25 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Fakhar Zaman, SIX! What a shot that is! Outrageous! This is slightly short and around off, this is angled into the batsman. Zaman heaves it, right off the middle and it goes over the mid-wicket fence. First of the game. Once again the last ball spoils the over.
15.22 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imam-ul-Haq, Good running! Brilliant running! This is just outside off, Imam guides it past point and down towards third man. They take on, Imam rushes for the second and completes it.
15.20 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! Just wide of the fielder! Slightly fuller and outside off, Zaman slashes at it. The ball goes uppishly and past the diving Markram at point and into the fence. The last ball spoils the over. Another decent one for Pakistan.
15.17 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Another one through the off side! Third in the over! This is probably the best of the lot. The last two were half volleys. This was slightly behind a driving length. Imam leans into it and hits it on the up through cover-point for a boundary. 12 from this over and 20 from the last two. Pakistan off to a flier.
15.15 IST: Lungi Ngidi to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR! Exquisite! Pakistan are dealing in boundaries! A half volley outside off, too easy for Imam. He leans into it and strokes it through covers. No stopping those. First boundary for Imam.
15.11 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR!
15.09 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! Slightly short and it has been put away! Zaman picks the length early, transfers his weight on the back foot and pulls it through mid-wicket.
15.01 IST: Kagiso Rabada to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR! Off the mark in style! That has been slapped! A hit-me ball by Rabada. Short and wide outside off, Zaman slaps it through the cover region and the ball races away to the fence.
14.58 IST: The players have come out to bat.
Playing XI
South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis(c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir
Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Haris Sohail, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir
14.35 IST: TOSS! Pakistan have won the toss and chosen to bat first against South Africa. Two changes for the side, as Shoaib Malik and Hasan Ali sit out for Haris Sohail and Shaheen Afridi.
Brief Preview: Having mustered just three points from six games, South Africa are all but out of the tournament while Pakistan might still sneak into the semifinals, provided they win their remaining four games and other results go in their favour. However, following Pakistan's heavy loss against India on June 16, not many of their supporters have any hopes left from their struggling side. It is not a surprise that the fans have shown little restraint in their criticism of the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side and stories of factionalism have surfaced from nowhere. (FULL PREVIEW)
