Sydney: Pakistan has still kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 33-run win over South Africa in a rain-curtailed T20 World Cup match here on Thursday. With this win, Pakistan (4 points) moved up to the third spot in group 2 While South Africa (5 points) continued to stay second behind leaders India (6 points).
Shadab first led Pakistan’s strong batting display with a scintillating 22-ball 52, propelling them to 185 for nine after opting to bat. He then took two wickets in the eighth over just before rain interrupted play. That led to South Africa needing to chase down a revised target of 142 in 14 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/14) and Shadab (2/16) then blew away the South African top order as the Proteas could manage 108 for 9 in 14 overs. As per DLS method, South Africa were set a revised target of 142 runs in 14 overs after the rain interruption.
Teams:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Pakistan jump up to third, having now taken four points in two games. Crucially, their net run rate is now +1.117 which is higher than that of top-placed India. It means that if Pakistan beat Bangladesh in their final Super 12 game on Sunday and then Zimbabwe pull an almighty upset against India, Babar Azam and Co. could just about sneak through to the semi-finals. Imagine the scandal if that happens. That’s it from us here, see you around as this T20 World Cup heats up!
