South Africa keep shaky Pakistan to 222
Another poor start, a brief counter-attack by a player the whole of Pakistan appeared to want picked from the day the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 began, then a series of sloppy dismissals, another stoic Misbah-ul-Haq fifty, an all-too-brief Shahid Afridi cameo and a limp finish. This, combined with two rain interruptions, formed the essence of Pakistan's 222 in 46.4 overs at Eden Park, after AB de Villiers put them in to bat on a stop-start day. South Africa need 232 in 47 overs, after the Duckworth/Lewis ruling was applied.
After being lifted by a terrific diving catch from Dale Steyn at mid-on to get rid of Ahmed Shehzad for 18 in the ninth over, South Africa slacked off. Taking Steyn off after an opening spell of 3-2-5-0 was also a strange move from de Villiers, and his choices over the next half hour also backfired. Imran Tahir's two early overs went for 15, de Villiers brought himself on to bowl the 12th over and was taken for nine runs, and JP Duminy was swung for three sixes in an over by Sarfraz Ahmed as the 50-run stand with Younis Khan was raised in quick time. To add to South Africa's struggles, Duminy threw to the wrong end to give Sarfraz a life on 19. The batsman, drafted in as opener for the out-of-touch Nasir Jamshed, was visibly charged up as he laced five boundaries and those three sixes and provided Pakistan the impetus at the top they so badly missed so far in the World Cup.
But then, suddenly, Sarfraz was run out on 49 off as many balls when attempting a very risky second. Looking to get to his fifty, he chanced David Miller's arm from deep fine leg and lay sprawled on the turf as South Africa celebrated. Sensing an opening, de Villiers called back Steyn for two overs but it was eventually his own assortment of non-threatening medium pace that ended a stand of 40, when Younis (37) got a leading edge to cover. It was a sloppy exit, undoubtedly, considering how well Younis had done to play Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Misbah, who until that wicket had made 19 from 38 balls, was once again left to revive the innings when Sohaib Maqsood (8) steered Abbott to point when the tall fast bowler was reintroduced. Umar Akmal came and went for 13, chipping Morkel to de Villiers to midwicket.
Either side of two rain interruptions, Afridi got the fans cheering with sixes off Tahir and Steyn, but looking to heave a predictable short ball from the latter, he found deep square leg for 22 off 15 balls. Tahir won an lbw shout against Wahab Riaz first ball and moments later Misbah ramped Steyn straight to third man for 56 from 86 balls - his fourth fifty in five matches at the World Cup - and with that the last spark had gone out of Pakistan's quixotic innings. In the 17 deliveries bowled after Misbah's exit, Pakistan managed just four runs. Steyn finished with 3/30, his best performance this tournament, a day after he spoke of how desperate he was to make an impact.
Another poor start, a brief counter-attack by a player the whole of Pakistan appeared to want picked from the day the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 began, then a series of sloppy dismissals, another stoic Misbah-ul-Haq fifty, an all-too-brief Shahid Afridi cameo and a limp finish. This, combined with two rain interruptions, formed the essence of Pakistan's 222 in 46.4 overs at Eden Park, after AB de Villiers put them in to bat on a stop-start day. South Africa need 232 in 47 overs, after the Duckworth/Lewis ruling was applied.
After being lifted by a terrific diving catch from Dale Steyn at mid-on to get rid of Ahmed Shehzad for 18 in the ninth over, South Africa slacked off. Taking Steyn off after an opening spell of 3-2-5-0 was also a strange move from de Villiers, and his choices over the next half hour also backfired. Imran Tahir's two early overs went for 15, de Villiers brought himself on to bowl the 12th over and was taken for nine runs, and JP Duminy was swung for three sixes in an over by Sarfraz Ahmed as the 50-run stand with Younis Khan was raised in quick time. To add to South Africa's struggles, Duminy threw to the wrong end to give Sarfraz a life on 19. The batsman, drafted in as opener for the out-of-touch Nasir Jamshed, was visibly charged up as he laced five boundaries and those three sixes and provided Pakistan the impetus at the top they so badly missed so far in the World Cup.
But then, suddenly, Sarfraz was run out on 49 off as many balls when attempting a very risky second. Looking to get to his fifty, he chanced David Miller's arm from deep fine leg and lay sprawled on the turf as South Africa celebrated. Sensing an opening, de Villiers called back Steyn for two overs but it was eventually his own assortment of non-threatening medium pace that ended a stand of 40, when Younis (37) got a leading edge to cover. It was a sloppy exit, undoubtedly, considering how well Younis had done to play Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Misbah, who until that wicket had made 19 from 38 balls, was once again left to revive the innings when Sohaib Maqsood (8) steered Abbott to point when the tall fast bowler was reintroduced. Umar Akmal came and went for 13, chipping Morkel to de Villiers to midwicket.
Either side of two rain interruptions, Afridi got the fans cheering with sixes off Tahir and Steyn, but looking to heave a predictable short ball from the latter, he found deep square leg for 22 off 15 balls. Tahir won an lbw shout against Wahab Riaz first ball and moments later Misbah ramped Steyn straight to third man for 56 from 86 balls - his fourth fifty in five matches at the World Cup - and with that the last spark had gone out of Pakistan's quixotic innings. In the 17 deliveries bowled after Misbah's exit, Pakistan managed just four runs. Steyn finished with 3/30, his best performance this tournament, a day after he spoke of how desperate he was to make an impact.
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