 | Super Eights: Shockingly brilliant
29 September 2012
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COLOMBO:
Umar Gul turned an unlikely hero with the bat as Pakistan survived a middle-order collapse to beat South Africa by two wickets in their first Super Eights clash of the World Twenty20.
Pakistan, chasing South Africa’s modest 133 for six, crashed to 76 for seven in the 15th over before Gul and Umar Akmal combined to share a match-winning partnership of 49 in 27 balls. Gul smashed two fours and three sixes in his whirlwind 32 off 17 balls before he was dismissed off the last ball of the 19th over by fast-bowler Dale Steyn with nine more needed. But Akmal, who remained unbeaten on 43, and Saeed Ajmal steered Pakistan home with two balls to spare, Ajmal edging the winning boundary off Morne Morkel.
Pakistan’s openers raced to 24 in 2.5 overs before the innings fell apart after Imran Nazir (14) was caught behind off Steyn. Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who came to bowl the fourth over, removed captain Mohammad Hafeez with his second delivery and Nasir Jamshed to make Pakistan 31 for three. Off-spinner Johan Botha also struck in his first over by bowling Kamran Akmal for one, Jacques Kallis dismissed Shoaib Malik (12) and JP Duminy had danger man Shahid Afridi caught in the deep first ball.
But Gul and Umar launched a blistering attack on the Proteas to earn Pakistan full points in the opening match of Group two.
Earlier, Pakistan’s spinners revelled on a slow wicket to restrict South Africa. Hafeez claimed two for 23 and 20-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan conceded just 12 runs in three overs. Seamers Yasir Arafat and Gul shared three wickets as the batsmen tried to hit out against them after failing to play the slow bowlers.
South Africa, the top-ranked side in the Twenty20 format, were reduced to 28-3 in 6.1 overs before recovering through de Villiers and JP Duminy.
Left-handed Duminy top-scored with 48 off 38 balls, while de Villiers made 25, but no other batsman reached 20.
De Villiers
“I’m proud of the way we fought back. But we lost it in the last five overs. Captaincy-wise there were maybe one or two errors [from me].”
Hafeez
“We played a couple of
bad shots. I knew that Gul could hit it hard. We did well to restrict them but in the end we were lucky to get this.”
Gul
“I must thank my coach. I told Umar Akmal that we should stay at the crease and we can get this done. The flick is my favourite shot.”
Manjrekar
“It was a shocking batting performance by Pakistan. Shockingly bad at first, and then shockingly brilliant at the end. But well done to them for this amazing win.” | | See Also in Sports News
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