ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Highlights: Pakistan Storm to Victory Over South Africa Despite AB de Villiers Special
Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Rahat Ali picked up three wickets apiece as Pakistan defeated South Africa by 29 runs (D/L) in a crunch encounter. Catch all the highlights here.
AB de Villiers' blistering 77 went in vain as South Africa crashed to their second defeat of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. (Scorecard | Points Table)
2:05 PM IST: That's the end of that! Pakistan have defeated South Africa by 29 runs (D/L) to record their first win over the Proteas in World Cups. Sarfraz Nawas is named Man of the Match.
1:57 PM IST: WICKET! Big, big breakthrough. Sohail Khan has removed AB de Villiers for 77. He was the only resistance between Pakistan and victory and he is gone. Pakistan are on the verge of a major win.
1:39 PM IST: WICKET! Abbott falls to Rahat Ali even as AB de Villiers hits another half-century. Pakistan are in with a massive chance to upset South Africa but with de Villiers still at the wicket, anything is possible.
1:10 PM IST: Dale Steyn is out. AB de Villiers is standing between Pakistan and victory. They are three wickets away from an emphatic win.
12:34 PM IST: WICKET! This is a major blow for South Africa as David Miller falls to Rahat Ali for a duck. South Africa are 77/5 and it's now up to de Villiers and Duminy to steer the Proteas out of deep trouble.
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12:18 PM IST: WICKET! Wahab Riaz has struck again to remove Riley Rossow for six. South Africa are tottering at 74/4 in 12.2 overs but the good news for them is that AB de Villiers is still in the middle. They have the likes of JP Duminy and David Miller to bat as well. So Pakistan still have a lot of work to do.
12:14 PM IST: So things stand at a very interesting juncture now. After Amla and du Plessis shared a brisk second wicket stand, they were both removed within two balls of each other as Pakistan reduced the Proteas to 67/3 in 10.1 overs.
11:54 AM IST: South Africa are cruising along at the moment as they reach 61/1 in 8 overs, chasing 232 against Pakistan. Amla and du Plessis have both been among the runs in this tournament and they are looking exceedingly confident again today.
11:49 AM IST: Amla is in terrific form; South Africa have raced away to 51/1 in 7 overs, chasing 232 in 47 overs (D/L) against Pakistan.
11:45 AM IST: Amla and du Plessis have taken control of the chase after Irfan departed early. Amla in particular has looked assuring with strokes on either side of the wicket. Pakistan need quick wickets here or the game could run away from them very quickly.
11:18 AM IST: WICKET! Iran has rocked South Africa early. He bowled a peach to the struggling Quinton de Kock, who edged it to Sarfraz Nawaz behind the stumps. South Africa are 0/1 in the second ball of their innings.
11:07 AM IST: The Pakistan lower-order caved in without so much as a semblance of a fight. They were 197/5 in 40.1 overs when play resumed after the second rain interval. But all they could manage was another 25 runs for the lost of the remaining five wickets. Great death-bowling by the Proteas again. South Africa need 232 in 47 overs according to the D/L method.
10:42 AM IST: WICKET! South Africa are chipping away at the lower order here; Tahir has removed Wahab Riaz for a duck with a quicker delivery that hit him on the pads. A DRS review upheld the umpire's call. Pakistan 212/7 in 42.1 overs.
10:35 AM IST: WICKET! Afridi paid the price for one shot too many and that too against Steyn, who bowled the perfect boucner; Afridi mistimed the hook shot and found JP Duminy at deep square leg. Pakistan 212/6.
10:30 AM IST: Pakistan brought up the 200 of their innings soon after play resumed. They are primed for a good score here with a set Misbah and Afridi in the middle.
10:15 AM IST: The covers were first taken off being brought back on again. It seems now that the match has been reduced to 47-overs-a-side and the innings break will be for 10 mins.
9:59 AM IST: The covers are coming off and it looks like play could resume soon.
9:45 AM IST: The rain this time appears to be heavier. If Pakistan do not bat again, then South Africa look at chasing 240 in 40 overs (D/L). With the kind of batting fire power they have, it should not be a massive ask but Pakistan's bowlers would love to defend six -runs-an-over for a change.
9:30 AM IST: Rain stopped play for a second time soon after Misbah raised his 42nd ODI fifty. Pakistan were 197/5 in 40.1 overs as the players headed for shelter in the face of some heavy showers.
9:10 AM IST: Rain has stopped play in Auckland. There was a rain threat this afternoon and it has finally forced the players off the field. Pakistan are 175/5 in 37 overs
8:58 AM IST: WICKET! Abbott picks up his second wicket to remove the dangerous Umar Akmal for 13 as Pakistan slip to 175/5 vs South Africa.
8:36 AM IST: WICKET! Abbott has struck again - this time he removes Maqsood as Pakistan slip to 156/4 in 32 overs. South Africa are fighting back only the way they know.
8:35 AM IST: Pakistan are slugging it out. Despite the loss of key wickets, this is the best platform they have had in this World Cup and their batsmen need to capitalise on it. Misbah had spoken of the need to get to at least 250 to allow his bowlers some leeway.
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8:18 AM IST: WICKET! What a breakthrough this is. Younis Khan, who was playing a solid knock has been removed by AB de Villiers. The Proteas skipper brought himself on only to shore up the over-rate and he was being taken for runs before he struck a deadly blow on Pakistan; 132/3 in 26.4 overs.
8:04 AM IST: It has been slow going for Younis and Misbah as Pakistan reach 115/2 in 24 overs. Morne Morkel is bowling a probing line and the task appears to be cut out for the sub-continental giants, who have faced some issues in this World Cup.
7:46 AM IST: The two veterans in the middle for Pakistan; 100 up before drinks and the 1992 champions have a great platform ahead of them; 104/2 off 19 overs
7:40 AM IST: Wasim Akram said on air he would have never dropped Younis Khan from the side and would have played him right through. The veteran batsman was left out for the last two matches, before being included today and he has looked pretty good so far.
7:34 AM IST: WICKET!Just when he was looking really good, Sarfraz Nawaz went for a risky double; he was tapped the ball on 48 and in a desperate bid to bring up his 50, chanced David Miller's arm. A great throw enabled Quinton de Kock to whip off the bails with Sarfraz miles away from the crease. Pakistan 92/2 in 16.4 overs.
7:31 AM IST: Sarfraz Nawaz has been in top form today; he slammed JP Duminy for three sixes in the 16th over; two in a row as Pakistan reached 90/1 off 16. This is a great start for Pakistan
7:19 AM IST: Perhaps keeping in mind South Africa's slow over-rate, AB de Villiers brought himself on to bowl; but the skipper ended up giving away nine runs as Younis Khan went past 1000 ODI runs against the Proteas in 40 matches. Pakistan are 54/1 in 12 overs.
7:16 AM IST: Ten runs from Imran Tahir's first over as Pakistan move on to 45/1 off 11. Sarfraz is looking assured in the middle and he will have Younis Khan's experience at the other end.ÂÂ
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7:07 AM IST: WICKET! Sensational catch from Dale Steyn sees off Ahmed Shehzad. The opener tried to clear short mid-on off the bowling of Kyle Abbott but an air-borne Steyn plucked a catch out of thin air. Pakistan are 30/1 in 8.4 overs.
6:52 AM IST: Pakistan are 17/0 off 5 overs and South Africa have made the first bowling change; Morne Morkel replaces Kyle Abbott.
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6:45 AM IST: FOUR! Shehzad opens his account with a boundary off Kyle Abbott; Steyn on the other hand has bowled two maidens. Pakistan have clearly picked up the bowler they want to target today. 12/0 in 3.4 overs
6:35 AM IST: Good first over from Steyn - as expected, he ran in and bowled with a lot of pace; just the one run from the over.
6:30 AM IST: The match is under way. Dale Steyn steams in to bowl to Sarfraz Nawaz. The two teams have clashed three times in World Cups and South Africa have had the better of Pakistan on all occasions.
6:14 AM IST: Here are the playing XIs:
Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (C), Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan
South Africa: HM Amla, Q de Kock (WK), F du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), RR Rossouw, DA Miller, JP Duminy, DW Steyn, KJ Abbott, M Morkel, Imran Tahir
6:05 AM IST: South Africa won the toss and opted to field vs Pakistan. Two major changes in either side. While a fit-again JP Duminy returns for the Proteas, the 1992 world champions have fallen back on the experience of Younis Khan to tackle Dale Steyn & Co.
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The Tussle for Knockouts
India have already booked their quarterfinal berth and are most-likely to finish at the top of Pool B. Barring multiple upsets, even South Africa are guaranteed a spot and could finish second. The race for the third and fourth spot is far more intense.
As it stands, West Indies (4 points) occupy the fourth spot with one game (vs UAE in hand). Ireland (4 points) are fifth but have three more games to go while Pakistan are third (4 points) with two matches to go. Pakistan need a win against South Africa to stay alive in World Cup 2015.
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