Duminy predicts Aus-Pak final in Champions Trophy

Joahnnesburg:

His team out of the tournament after a 22-run defeat against England, South African middle order batsman Jaen-Paul Duminy has predicted that Pakistan would win the Champions Trophy here.

"With us now on our way to our respective homes, my tournament prediction for the final is: Australia vs Pakistan. I'm not much of a betting man, but I'm going for Pakistan. They are looking like the form team of the tournament," he said.

Duminy said he was hugely disappointed at South Africa having failed to do well in the tournament at home.

"... another failed ICC campaign. The disappointment levels are huge, especially coming so close on the back of the T20 World Championship exit. I took that defeat very personally, but this one has really hit as a team.

"After all the hype of coming into the Champions Trophy as the No 1 team in the world, and then to end last in our group is hugely disappointing. We know we have let a lot of people down. The tournament is in our backyard and we really wanted to give the people of South Africa something to celebrate," he wrote in his column for 'Independent Online'.

"We've got no excuses because as team we knew what we had to do. All we can do is learn from these demoralising defeats and hope when the next time comes around we can implement our skills under pressure," Duminy said.

Duminy was though all praise for his captain Graeme Smith who fought a lone battle in the match against England.

"Oh captain, my captain! What an innings by Graeme last night. The skip must have played one of the most outstanding One-Day International innings of all time."