Haris Sohail justified his selection with a strong innings to put Pakistan on the front foot against South Africa (1:35)
Pakistan 308 for 7 (Haris 89, Babar 69, Tahir 2-41) beat South Africa 259 for 9 (du Plessis 63, Wahab 3-46, Shadab 3-50) by 49 runs
As it happened
An inspired, backs-to-the-wall performance from Pakistan knocked South Africa out of the 2019 World Cup.
Pakistan let sense prevail in their selections for this game, and a re-jigged XI collected a vital, 49-run victory. Haris Sohail, drafted in place of Shoaib Malik, showed just what Pakistan had been missing by blasting 89 of the most sublimely-timed runs so far witnessed in this tournament. His innings added further impetus after an 81-run opening stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, gluing Pakistan’s middle together alongside Babar Azam, who contributed 69. Haris then added 71 with Imad Wasim (with Imad, contributing just 23, mostly at the other end), and thanks to his nine fours and three sixes, Pakistan were able to take 91 from the last 10 and soar to 308 for 7.
South Africa have never successfully chased 300-plus in a World Cup: the highest total they’ve ever overhauled is India’s 296 in Nagpur in 2011. And they haven’t chased a 300-plus target in any ODI in nearly three years, the last time being against Australia in Durban in October 2016.
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Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan struck repeatedly to overcome their top order and ensure this would not be a historic occasion for South Africa, and a reverse-swinging, low-armed Wahab Riaz then did as he does best, skittling the lower order at the death with the required rate skyrocketing.
Amir finished with 2 for 49, moving to the top of the wicket-taker’s table in this tournament, while Shadab contributed a vital 3 for 50 and Wahab shut things down with 3 for 46.
While South Africa’s chances of progressing out of the round-robin stage are now over, Pakistan can still dare to dream.
Full report to follow
Source: ESPN Crickinfo