Mercurial Pakistan hammered by Proteas in warm-up tie

Batsmen crash for 71 mere two days before India opener.


News Desk March 19, 2014
Bilawal Bhatti takes a long walk back to the pavilion as South Africa demolish Pakistan’s batting line-up for just 71 in their second warm-up match of the World Twenty20. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan batsmen choked against the relentless South African attack in their second and final warm-up match before the start of the ICC WorldTwenty20.

The Fatullah wicket proved to the undoing of Mohammad Hafeez’s men in conditions more favourable for the former champions than the South Africans.

After capitulating for 71 runs, the bowlers failed to exert pressure on the opponents who coasted to an easy win. The opening pair of Hashim Amla (24) and Quinton de Kock (15) added 39 runs for the opening wicket before Amla fell to Umar Gul. The next over saw Shahid Afridi, making a comeback after the groin injury lay-off,  accounting for de Kock.

David Miller and AB de Villiers ensured an overwhelming win for their team by reaching the target without further stutter.

For Pakistan, the one-sided defeat is a wake-up call before the all-important match against India, set to be played in Mirpur on Friday.

Pakistan batsmen crumble tamely

Batting first on a slow and low Fatullah wicket, the Pakistan batsmen found the going tough. The opening pair of Sharjeel Khan (2) and Ahmed Shehzad (12) fell with only 23 runs on the board. Their departure triggered a collapse as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

Shoaib Malik (1), Sohaib Maqsood (15) and Kamran Akmal perished without any fight. Kamran was run out for a duck, the top-scorer was Umar Akmal who contributed 17 runs to the total.

Skipper Mohammad Hafeez, who appeared to bat at number eight, fell for seven runs, Wayne Parnell accounted for him. South Africa made most of the conditions with as many as nine bowlers turning their arm over. Left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks took two wickets for only three runs in two overs.

Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe also took two wickets each as Pakistan batsmen lasted only 17.3 overs.

West Indies beat Sri Lanka

In another warm-up match played in Dhaka on Wednesday. defending champions West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 33 runs. Batting first, the men from the Caribbean posted a challenging score of 172 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs.

Dwayne Smith top-scored for his team with a stroke filled 60. Dwayne Bravo chipped in with 43. The Sri Lankan team were then sent packing for 139. Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 43 off 36, wicket-keeper batsman Kumara Sangakkara scored 24 off 19 and Angelo Mathews scored 18.

Sunil Narine claimed four wickets, while Bravo accounted for three Sri Lankan batsmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.

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