Pakistan oust South Africa from World Twenty20
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia (AFP) — Defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa by 11 runs to knock the Proteas out of the World Twenty20 and keep their own semi-final hopes alive here yesterday.
In a must-win game for both sides, Pakistan were in dire straits at 18 for three, but made 148 for seven, thanks mainly to man-of-the-match Umar Akmal’s 51.
South Africa, chasing a relatively modest target, were then held to 137 for seven with spin, primarily off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal (four wickets for 26 runs), proving their undoing.
The Proteas slumped to 68 for four and, despite a fifty from AB de Villiers, couldn’t break the Pakistan slow bowlers’ stranglehold.
“We are very, very disappointed,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.
“We struggled with the bat. We lacked the fluency and positivity… it has been the story of the tournament.
“This team is too talented to be playing this way.”
Delighted Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said: “The boys really performed very well.
“I have already started praying that England should win the next game!”
Man-of-the-match Umar Akmal added: “There was no pressure on me. I just played my positive game. The wicket was good and the ball went where I wanted it to go.”
Scoreboard
Pakistan
K Akmal c Gibbs b van der Merwe 37
S Butt c Smith b Steyn 2
K Latif c Steyn b Kallis 7
M Hafeez lbw b Langeveldt 1
U Akmal c Gibbs b Langeveldt 51
S Afridi b Langeveldt 30
A Razzaq not out 11
M Haq c de Villiers b Langeveldt 3
A Rehman not out 2
Extras (lb1, w3) 4
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 148
Did not bat: M Aamer, S Ajmal
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Butt), 2-14 (Latif), 3-18 (Hafeez), 4-69 (K Akmal), 5-130 (U Akmal), 6-132 (Afridi), 7-143 (Misbah)
Bowling: A Morkel 4-0-28-0; Steyn 4-0-26-1 (1w); Langeveldt 4-0-19-4; Kallis 4-0-28-1; Botha 2-0-13-0 (2w); Van der Merwe 2-0-33-1
South Africa
H Gibbs c Misbah-ul-Haq b Razzaq 3
G Smith c Afrid b Rehman 13
J Kallis c U Akmal b Ajmal 22
AB de Villiers c K Akmal b Ajmal 53
JP Duminy c Latif b Rehman 3
M Boucher lbw b Ajmal 12
A Morkel not out 7
J Botha st K Akmal b Ajmal 19
R van der Merwe not out 2
Extras (lb1, w2) 3
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 137
Did not bat: D Steyn, C Langeveldt
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Gibbs), 2-23 (Smith), 3-56 (Kallis), 4-68 (Duminy), 5-101 (de Villiers), 6-113 (Boucher), 7-135 (Botha)
Bowling: Razzaq 3-0-16-1; Aamer 4-0-33-0; Rehman 4-0-35-2 (2w); Hafeez 1-0-5-0; Afridi 4-0-21-0; Ajmal 4-0-26-4
Toss: Pakistan
Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs
Man-of-the-match: Umar Akmal (PAK)
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Ian Gould (ENG)
TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZL)
Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)
