Pakistan won the second T20 against South Africa by six runs to level the series 1-1. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez is hopeful of a turnaround in the fortunes of the national team in the One-Day International (ODI) format after the visitors squared the two match Twenty20 series with a win at Newlands, Cape Town Friday night.
“We’ve been working really hard but luck was not with Pakistan,” said Hafeez, who was named man of the match and man of the series. “We knew we had to win this game to stay positive for the rest of the series.”
On the other hand, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was disappointed with the bowlers’ performance in spite of enjoying home advantage.
“I think we weren’t as good in the bowling department as we have before,” he said. “We made some errors and gave away 20 extra runs and that was the difference.”
Hafeez and Umar Akmal went on a six-hitting spree before Shahid Afridi sealed the victory.
Hafeez hit 63 off 41 balls with three sixes and Akmal hammered 64 off 38 deliveries with four sixes as Pakistan made 176 for four. They put on 102 off just 57 balls for the third wicket as the South African bowlers were put to the sword. Afridi took three for 28 with his brisk leg-spinners after South Africa had raced to 58 for no wicket in the first seven overs of their reply.
The hosts finished with 170 for four – losing by six runs – thanks largely to an unbroken stand of 53 off 28 balls between JP Duminy and David Miller. But they were never really in contention, despite scoring 19 off the penultimate over, bowled by Junaid Khan.
Seventeen were needed off the final over and Sohail Tanvir bowled a series of yorkers and low full tosses to restrict South Africa to 10 runs, which included a boundary off the last ball.
Pakistan will now start a three-match ODI series at the same venue today.
Umar Akmal should bat in top order: Latif
Meanwhile, former captain and wicket-keeper batsman Rashid Latif feels that Umar Akmal should be asked to bat in the top order in T20 format.
“Umar Akmal was sent at the right number, he should be persisted in the top order in the shortest format,” Latif told The Express Tribune. “He can be asked to bat at the same spot at least in the first ODI too as he is in a rich vein of form and high on confidence.”
Latif thinks that the selection committee should continue to persist with youngsters even if the results are not favorable against South Africa.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
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