As It Happened: Pakistan vs South Africa, 29th World Cup Match in Auckland
Live cricket score and ball-by-ball commentary from the 29th World Cup match between Pakistan and South Africa at the Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
Pakistan clinched a thrilling 29-run over South Africa at the World Cup on Saturday to put themselves on course for the quarter-finals. Catch all the highlights of the match here: (SCORECARD | POINTS TABLE)
Chasing 232 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis method at Eden Park, Pakistan claimed a third successive victory by bowling out the highly-rated Proteas for 202 despite captain AB de Villiers' valiant 77.
Rahat Ali grabbed a career-best 3-40, Mohammad Irfan (3-52) and Wahab Riaz (3-45) as South Africa, chasing a revised target in 47 overs, were bowled out 33.3 overs.
South Africa also have three wins in five matches.
Pakistan's innings, twice interrupted by rain before it was reduced to 47 overs, folded in 46.4 overs for 222 with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scoring 56 and Sarfraz Ahmed making 49.
Dale Steyn took 3-30 off his 10 overs.
Live Score - Pakistan vs South Africa
That's all we have for today. Do continue following our coverage of Ireland and Zimbabwe. Until then goodbye and take care.
SARFRAZ AHMED (Man of the Match) - Says he wants to thank God and his parents, his teammates and the team management for all their support. Adds that there was a lot of pressure being his first match. Further adds he had a chat with Mushtaq which helped him and the performances are for you to see today.
Earlier in the day, Sarfraz got them off to a good start as he put on a brisk 49 runs. The middle order got good contributions but lost their way towards the end as the Proteas restricted them to 222. A good overall performance by the Pakistanis and they have their third win of this tournament.
Mid way he almost took the game away from the Pakistanis but the pressure crept up on him as he ran out of partners. He went onto score a brilliant 58 ball 77. Irfan got the first breakthrough and Riaz started off with two brilliant wicket maidens. They kept picking up wickets at crucial junctures and made sure de Villiers did not get away with the game. Sohail, Irfan and Rahat Ali each picked up three wickets to get Pakistan home in the end.
Pakistan clinch a close victory here and still are very much in the running to the quarters. Chasing 232, de Kock failed yet again, Amla and du Plessis looked good and put in some decent runs on the board. Both fell in quick succession and the middle order suffered a collapse. de Villiers though was going strong but was losing partners at the other end.
OUT! Done and dusted! Good length ball outside off, Tahir throws his bat at it to play and gets an outside edge. Sarfraz again in the action completes the catch behind the stumps and takes his sixth catch of the match. PAKISTAN WIN A CLOSE GAME in the end as they win by 29 runs.
Angles a length ball outside off, Tahir looks to drive but gets beaten.
Short ball around off, Morkel nudges it to third man for a run.
Play and a miss to ball outside off.
Bowls a short ball on middle and off, Tahir drops his wrists and lets it through.