A disciplined bowling display saw Pakistan defeat South Africa by 19 runs (via D/L/S method) in a Group B encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa got off to a solid enough start, with Quinton de Kock (33 off 49 balls) and Hashim Amla (16 off 20 balls) adding 40 runs for the first wicket. But once the Pakistan spin duo of Imad Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez were introduced into the bowling attack, the Proteas were all at sea.
After both openers fell to the spinners, AB de Villiers was dismissed for a golden duck for the first time in his ODI career.
Then, Hasan Ali ripped through South Africa’s middle-order as he took three wickets which reduced the batting side to 118-6. The wicket of Wayne Parnell will stay long in the memories of cricket fans as Hasan, bowling from around the wicket, got the ball to straighten and crash into the left-handed batsman’s off-stump.
David Miller curbed his natural instincts to help South Africa set a competitive target. The 27-year-old hit just one four and three sixes in his unbeaten knock of 75 from 104 balls.
He was well supported by Chris Morris (28 off 45 balls) and Kagiso Rabada (26 off 23 balls) in the latter part of the innings.
While Hasan was the most impressive of Pakistan’s bowlers, IMAD (2-20 from eight overs), Junaid Khan (2-53 from nine overs), and Hafeez (1-51 from 10 overs) were also among the wickets.
In reply, ODI debutant Fakhar Zaman got Pakistan off to a quick start, as he hit six boundaries in his 23-ball 31.
Morne Morkel then showed why he is still such a valuable asset to the South African team as he bowled a magnificent spell which saw him dismiss Zaman and Azhar Ali (9 off 22 balls) in the same over before getting the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez (26 off 53 balls) later in the innings.
Pakistan, though, were always ahead of the eight ball and when the rain came down after 27 overs during their chase, Babar Azam (31* off 51 balls) and Shoaib Malik (16* off 14 balls) had guided them to 119-3, 19 runs ahead of the par score via the D/L/S method.
BRIEF SCORES
South Africa 219-8, 50 overs [Miller 75*, Hasan 3-24, Imad 2-20] lost to Pakistan 119-3, 27 overs [Zaman 31, Azam 31*, Morkel 3-18] by 19 runs (D/L/S method).
Player of the Match – Hasan Ali.
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