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.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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To me only thing of consideration is Afridi's batting.I think afridi himself do not know that how dangerous he can be.........he shoud realize his importance for the time and my good wishes are with him for the future........
Well this is Pakistan's team. So nothing can be assured during match till last over. Wish best of luck to Pakistan's team.
what a match, Thanks for those sky kissing sixes GULDOZER
Alhumdurillah great played by Gul & Umar Akmal, no doubt! But please tell me why we are keeping Shoib Mailk & Afridi in the Team. We need replacement on urgent basis. Get Back Junaid Khan & Hammad Azam in the Team. We need Young Players & Pacers! Tuff Games Ahead and for that i would request to replace Shoib Malik to Asad Shafiq! Because we need batting too.
Indians claim this match has been fixed.
For all the Afridi bashers out there, you should realize that he is a bowling all-rounder. He is doing fine with the ball. Yes, his batting is going no where but then unpredictability has always been the hallmark of his batting career. Have some faith in him. He might shine with bat on a certain day. As for Malik, I also feel he should be replaced with Abdur Razzaq. However, since the team is winning anyway, Malik can be given one more chance against India. Coach & Captain need to work more with seamers though.
afridi should and must be replaced by razzaq, he is just useless
Afridi should be kicked out of the team!!! He doesn't deserve it at all!
@Mullah man: C'mon man we had to replace a no of players including malik, razzaq, afridi. For what reason they are in team, probably to show the world that they were brilliant in their past and now they have fundamental right to be in the team whether they perform or not.
Electrifying finish to the epic match.Win is still a win ,no matter how brilliant or ugly it is. great teams with a wining habit have to win ugly at times. Congratulation to team Pakistan.
If we talk about merit Afridi needs to be dropped. Razzaq needs to fill in
Gul was in the zone , sort of zen like ..
Hope similar repeat performances from him
We need razzaq to replace shohib mallik.
Well said Manjrekar: "Shockingly bad at first, and then shockingly brilliant at the end." This is the only way it can be described.