Pakistan stay in the hunt for semi-finals, move to third spot
Pakistan once again showed what a dangerous team they can be and sprung a surprise on South Africa with a 33-run win. The two points take Pakistan to third place, ahead of Bangladesh, with whom they will play their last match on Saturday.
Rain, South Africa and Sydney seem to be a bad combination for the Proteas, who could not chase the stiff revised target of 143, needing 72 in five overs. After a brisk start, the South African innings folded in the last three overs.
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Pakistan once again showed what a dangerous team they can be and sprung a surprise on South Africa with a 33-run win. The two points take Pakistan to third place, ahead of Bangladesh, with whom they will play their last match on Saturday.
Rain, South Africa and Sydney seem to be a bad combination for the Proteas, who could not chase the stiff revised target of 143, needing 72 in five overs. After a brisk start, the South African innings folded in the last three overs.
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
#t20worldcup2022 #pakistanvssouthafrica
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00:00Welcome to Straight Bad with Gulf News, yet another thriller in the World Cup.
00:11It's not exactly a thriller, actually the ingredients made it more thrilling.
00:15A 33-run win is not a thriller, but the thing is finally there was a scramble there.
00:20Thanks to the rain and the duck with Luis Maduro.
00:23In any case, Pakistan keep their semifinal hopes alive with a 33-run win.
00:32Ashfaq, what did you make of that match?
00:34Shyam, I said it was a must-win match.
00:37Otherwise, the Pakistan team would have been on flight tomorrow.
00:40So, they did well.
00:42I think the opening pairs failed again, miserably.
00:47But the change was young.
00:49The tone was set by young Harris.
00:52This guy who's new, 21-year-old.
00:54This was just second ODI, the way he hit the ball.
00:57So, quick fire, three sixes and two fours.
01:00It gave, I think, a lot of positivity in the game.
01:04Though he got out in just 11 balls, but he set the pace.
01:07And then Iftikhar.
01:09Iftikhar really did well today.
01:14In 32, 35 balls, he made 51.
01:17Then Nawaz chipped in.
01:18Then Shadab made a big difference.
01:2032 balls, 52.
01:22So, altogether, I was expecting 170 runs should be okay.
01:26Because Miller was not there.
01:28But they managed 185.
01:30So, I think they pulled off a great win.
01:33Bad luck for South Africa.
01:3492 World Cup memories came back.
01:37And they lost because of the rain.
01:41Things could have been different if Miller was there.
01:43But today was not their day.
01:45I think today was Pakistan's day.
01:46Everything went in their favor.
01:48Even in the field, South Africa was so sloppy today.
01:51And Pakistan got all the catches and run outs, everything.
01:54They were like all over.
01:56But it was a good day.
01:57And I think good luck day for them.
02:00I hope they can progress more.
02:07Yeah.
02:08And all in all, a very consummate victory by Pakistan.
02:11With the batsmen running into form.
02:14As well as the bowlers backing them up.
02:16Satheesh, where did things go wrong for South Africa?
02:19I think exactly.
02:22Actually, it was a very chancy wicket for South Africa when Mohammed Nawaz got out.
02:27He should have actually referred.
02:29But it was actually a blessing in disguise for Pakistan.
02:33Because Shadab came and started playing his shots.
02:35And he was connecting well.
02:37At that point of time, I think South Africa, just before that and during that phase,
02:42I think South Africa lost their momentum.
02:44Maybe they started mis-building.
02:47And the bowlers were bowling at the wrong areas.
02:49And there was a slight drizzle at that point of time.
02:52Where the ball was also, you know, like they were not able to hold the ball well.
02:56So some full tosses.
02:57And the ball was hitting nicely.
02:59So everything happened at that point of time.
03:01I think that was almost the 15th over when Nawaz got out.
03:04More or less, Pakistan was in control.
03:06I think it was 95-5 in 13 overs.
03:11Which is a pretty good score.
03:13But if you look at another 4 overs, the match turned around.
03:22Ashfaq, coming back to you again.
03:24The much maligned middle order came to Pakistan's rescue, isn't it?
03:29Not just that.
03:30There was a refreshingly positive approach from the batsmen.
03:33True, Shab.
03:35This was a do-or-die match.
03:37If they don't do it today, they haven't done it today.
03:41Maybe many of them will lose their heads in the next big tournaments.
03:47Because there were a lot of practices back home on this middle order.
03:50But today they performed.
03:51And I think they should be thankful to Horace.
03:54Young Horace who gave them hope.
03:56And everybody chipped in.
03:58And they did their best.
04:00In the middle order today, they shined.
04:02And now I think we are not worried even if Babur Azam or Muhammad Rezwan don't score.
04:09The middle order proved today that they can still manage a big total
04:12if they play positive cricket.
04:15And if they don't depend on Babur Azam too much.
04:18Another takeaway I would say, Shab, from the match
04:22is Shaheen Afridi got his rhythm back.
04:25He struck in the first two hours.
04:28Got two very crucial wickets.
04:30And he was superbly backed by Naseem Shah
04:35who was superb death over.
04:38And Naseem Junior also.
04:40So they all did a great job.
04:43And Shadda was like, of course, this was his day.
04:46Back-to-back two wickets of South African captain
04:50and the other guy, Barker.
04:52That changed the game for him.
04:54It was Shaddaab's day, I think.
04:56At least, man of the match.
04:58Everything went in their favor.
04:59Today was the day.
05:01And this is a strange team.
05:03They lost to Zimbabwe.
05:05And they won the team of the tournament.
05:08With this big.
05:11And what I would say, I have been especially struck by Iftikhar Ahmed's innings.
05:17He not just held the innings together.
05:20And he went after the big shots as well.
05:22And this shows this man is of immense talent.
05:25We haven't seen much of him.
05:27But this is his second 50 in the match, is it?
05:29Yeah, this is the second 50 of the tournament.
05:33Iftikhar has been scoring in local matches big time.
05:36That's why he has been scoring in PCL.
05:39He is a dangerous player.
05:41He can take over the match.
05:43He has the capabilities.
05:45And he can ball as well.
05:48And he has been bowling in PSL as well.
05:51So, Iftikhar's innings and Shadab and Nawaz.
05:56I think they are getting stronger.
05:59Midlaners are getting stronger as they are playing.
06:02Because Babur and Rizwan didn't allow them in early days.
06:06Because two of them used to score and there was nothing left.
06:09Now they are getting a chance to play.
06:11Now they are playing, so they got the confidence with the games.
06:15So, now they can perform.
06:17So, that's what I see.
06:19Actually, the tone was said by young Mohammad Harris.
06:24We haven't seen much of him.
06:26But the way he took on the South African baseballers was fantastic.
06:30I think that set the tone for the match.
06:32Tell us more about this Harris.
06:34Harris is just 21 years old.
06:37And he was included in the squad of 16.
06:45Blessing and disguise for him that Fakhar Zaman got injured.
06:49And the World Cup committee approved his inclusion in the squad.
06:54And I think this young man has nothing to lose today.
06:57He has nothing to lose.
06:58So, he just went after the batting.
07:00And this is what he has been doing in the local matches.
07:03Actually, he is an opener westman.
07:05I was expecting that maybe Mohammad Rizwan will come one down.
07:09And he will come with Babur as an opener pair.
07:14But they didn't break that partnership.
07:16And despite he was one down, the way he played, he comes as a strike opener.
07:23He actually showed the way for the rest of the batsmen.
07:28Satish, tell us.
07:30See, South Africa has an equally fearsome face-to-face attack.
07:34But they were taken to the cleaners, really.
07:38All their analysis went for a toss in the last 5-6 overs.
07:47When Shadab started off first with a few sixes, fours.
07:52Then, I think, Iftikhar also joined towards the closing stage.
07:57And it was kind of a free-for-all at that point of time.
08:01Chand, if you look at, they conceded about 95, almost close to 90 runs in the last 7 overs.
08:12That completely demolished all their analysis.
08:16It started with Ingidi, who was first hit.
08:22Then Rabada initially had a bad over because Paris took him on straightaway in the first over.
08:28So, his analysis was bad.
08:30Nokia, I think, that one over where the ball slipped, he gave away a full-toss six, which was a no-ball.
08:37Then he came back and he bowled another full-toss, which went for a six.
08:40So, everything went topsy-turvy.
08:43The fielding was also dropping catches.
08:46So, the bowlers didn't have the confidence.
08:48So, in a bit of madness, things went completely topsy-turvy in a 6 or 7-over spell.
08:56That's where South Africa lost.
08:58Again, unfortunately, once again, the chokers' tag will be coming on top of their heads.
09:04Because when they were going strong at that point of time, they should have choked Pakistan.
09:10Instead, they let them go free.
09:12And then the momentum shifted completely towards Pakistan.
09:15When they batted also, I think, AB should have… Sorry, Quinton de Kock should have waited for a little while.
09:23He saw how fast you can change the match around.
09:26And he is one guy who could take the match at a different level.
09:30So, he also…
09:31Satish, just to stop you there.
09:33This also showed the fragility of the South African team, isn't it?
09:37They have won all the matches until now.
09:39This is their first loss.
09:40And some people have even placed them as one of the favourites after the four wins.
09:45But today's scrambling doesn't really sit well with them, right?
09:52Yes, Shyam.
09:53But I suspected this.
09:54Because if you look at, again, only two or three batsmen were performing.
09:59And thankfully, Bouma came good today.
10:03But again, without Miller…
10:05It was down to Quinton de Kock and Miller.
10:09These were the guys who were holding up the South African batting, South African innings.
10:14In between…
10:15Not really.
10:16In between, we had O'Reilly-Rousseau scoring in one match.
10:19And Hayden Markram scoring against India.
10:22So, each match, a different guy was standing up.
10:25Yeah. See, Shyam.
10:27I was hitting Bangladesh spinners.
10:29And that day, it was his day.
10:30I saw that match.
10:31Anything he was…
10:32Even a mis-time shot was going to a six.
10:34So, that was one inning which helped O'Reilly-Rousseau at that point of time.
10:38But apart from that, against India, he didn't do well.
10:41Even against India, Markram had a couple of likes.
10:44Like two, three run-out chances.
10:46Catches dropped.
10:47So, they were not actually giving me the confidence that they are a full team which is ready to steamroller the opposition.
10:54The bowling was good.
10:55That's where their strong point was always in this tournament.
11:01But today, when that failed, they didn't know how to go about it.
11:04Okay.
11:05Sir, coming back quickly to Ashfaq.
11:08Before we wind up, this queue is actually a Pakistan breathing space.
11:12And in fact, they will wait for India's last match against Zimbabwe to know their semi-final standings.
11:18So, how hopeful are you of Pakistan's next…
11:23They have to play one more game, right?
11:25Yeah.
11:26If they win Bangladesh, they have pretty good chances, I think, to progress.
11:35But let's see.
11:37We are keeping our hopes alive.
11:39And if they come through, I think they are a new team now.
11:44And they will go through semi-finals as well.
11:47If they qualify, I can see them in the finals.
11:50Because they have come back to a final.
11:53Okay.
11:54In fact, they are batting, bowling.
11:55Everything is coming together at this time.
11:57Everything is coming together.
11:58Yes, absolutely.
11:59Sir, coming to the schedule.
12:00What is the advantage or the disadvantage Pakistan has?
12:04Pakistan is playing after South Africa.
12:07The first match is between Netherlands and South Africa on Sunday.
12:10Second match, Bangladesh and Pakistan are playing.
12:13That is between the third and fourth place.
12:15So, by the time they know what South Africa has done, based on that, the match will go on.
12:21But the sad part is, the last match is between India and Zimbabwe.
12:25Until such time, they will not know what the fate is.
12:28Let's see.
12:31Just before we wrap up, tomorrow's games are Ireland vs. New Zealand and Australia vs. Afghanistan.
12:37So, I think most of the heavyweight matches are scheduled for Sunday.
12:42So, until then, this is Shyam from Gulf News winding up.
12:49Thanks for logging in.
12:50And please head over to our social media channels and gulfnews.com for the latest updates and breaking news.
12:57Thank you very much.
13:00GULF NEWS