What we learned from Pakistan's win over South Africa

Jaideep Marar 09:30 08/06/2017
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  • Pakistan put in a much improved fielding display.

    Pakistan bounced back from their defeat against arch-rivals India in some style as they defeated South Africa, the world number one ODI team, by 19 runs (via the DLS method) on Wednesday evening

    What did the victory mean for Sarfraz Ahmed’s men?

    Here’s what we learned from the match.

    Share your thoughts with us, too – get in touch on Twitter or via Facebook.

    YES, PAKISTAN CAN FIELD

    The odds of Pakistan fielders dropping more catches than holding them would have been quite high after their bumbling display against India. But they pulled off a huge surprise with a fantastic performance in the field to prove the trolls wrong and memes that flooded social media platforms following their first match debacle.

    Their ground fielding was superb mainly in the 30-yard circle with Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam and the young Shadab Khan denying many a run to the South Africans with their quick anticipation.

    Their catching was also equally good, they caught all that came their way with Hasan Ali’s pick-up on the run from mid on to dismiss Kagiso Rabada being the best.

    Fielding coach Steve Dixon will be mighty pleased with the players’ efforts as they kept energy and concentration levels high throughout the innings.

    PROFESSOR HAS A SAY

    The South African batsmen do not fancy their chances against spin and the Pakistanis exploited that to the hilt by unleashing their slow bowlers. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim had the better figures of 2-20 but it was Mohammad Hafeez’s 10-0-51-1 that strangled the Proteas’ batting the most.

    The 36-year-old returned to bowling off-spin only earlier this year after an 18-month absence owing to a one-year ban for an illegal action. But the Professor, as he is known among teammates, showed no signs of rustiness as he bowled 30 dot balls, the most by any Pakistan bowler in the match.

    It meant that South Africa did not score a run from five of his overs as he bowled his full quota. Not a big turner of the ball, he did not give much room to the South African batsmen, most of them left-handers, opting for an off and middle stump line.

    It was weird that he did not get to bowl against India, but he proved his worth against the Proteas, a defiant 26 with the bat making it an all-round effort.

    MILLER’S DEFIANCE COMMENDABLE

    It was not the best of times when David Miller walked in to face the Pakistan bowling. South Africa were three wickets down, with the captain AB de Villiers back in the hut and the rival spinners making life difficult in the middle.

    To see Miller walk in ahead of JP Duminy, a much better player of spin, was a surprise, as the former is an attacking batsman who loves to hurl the kitchen sink at the bowlers.

    The idea may have been for him to hit a few out of the park but the plan went awry because wickets kept falling at the other end with Miller forced to show restrain.

    It was against his character but Miller, who turns 28 on Saturday, showed remarkable patience to shore up the South African innings and give the bowling pack a fighting total to bowl at. That he had a strike rate of 72.11, much lower than his career rate of 102.35, and that he hit just one four and three sixes tells the complete story.

    Miller's unbeaten 75 helped South Africa post a fighting total [Getty Images]

    Miller’s unbeaten 75 helped South Africa post a fighting total.

    IS AB OVER THE HILL?

    The South African captain’s stay at the crease has been so short in the tournament so far that even before you could say Abraham Benjamin de Villiers he is back in the pavilion.

    Against Sri Lanka, he lasted four balls and on Wednesday he was out first ball, a rarity in his one-day international career. It was the only time he got dismissed for a golden duck in 221 ODIs and only the second time he was out without scoring in a 50-overs international match since 2007.

    Having redefined the art of batsmanship with his incredible skills for more than a decade since his Test debut in 2004, de Villiers has not been in his element lately.

    He did not light up the Indian Premier League either this year, averaging 27.00 from nine games and scored 216 runs with a high of 89. He may yet spring a surprise on us with a cracking display in the tournament but the twin failures indicate his best years might be behind him.

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