BIRMINGHAM: South Africa beat Pakistan by 67 runs in their Champions Trophy Group B day/night match at Edgbaston yesterday.
Pakistan, set 235 to win, finished on 167 all out after never really recovering from the loss of two early wickets to South Africa debutant Chris Morris, despite captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s 55.
Ryan McLaren polished off the innings with four for 19 as South Africa won with five overs to spare.
Earlier, man-of-the-match Hashim Amla (81) top-scored in South Africa’s 234 for nine.
Victory revived South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the semifinals after their opening loss to India but this result left Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the last four hanging by a thread after they were also defeated by the West Indies.
South Africa conclude their group program against the West Indies in Cardiff on Friday with Pakistan facing arch-rivals India at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Run-outs, which cost South Africa dear against India, proved a problem for the Proteas again with both skipper AB de Villiers, who won the toss, and JP Duminy falling to direct hits by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Misbah also held a stunning catch at extra-cover late on to dismiss David Miller.
Amla’s innings apart, no other batsman made more than de Villiers’ run-a-ball 31.
Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez took one for 38 from 10 overs and towering left-arm seamer Mohammd Irfan one for 27 in an innings featuring four run-outs, including two in the final over.
Each wicket was greeted with raucous cheers from an overwhelming pro-Pakistan 25,000 capacity crowd at Edgbaston, situated in Birmingham which boasts one of the largest Asian populations of any English city.
Now the question was whether the Proteas, missing injured strike fast bowlers Dale Steyn (side) and Morne Morkel, out of the tournament with a leg injury after breaking down against India, had enough runs to defend against a Pakistan side dismissed for just 170 by the West Indies.
Amla was dropped on seven when a cut off Irfan flew to backward point where Umar Amin dropped the tough chance.
Hafeez had opener Colin Ingram (20) lbw on the sweep.
But the prospect of Amla, second in the ODI batting rankings, enjoying a lengthy stand with his top-ranked captain ended when he reverse swept off-spinner Saeed Ajmal to Hafeez at short third man.
Amla faced 97 balls with nine fours.
De Villiers was run out, slipping on the turn after a mix-up with Duminy, who in turn fell in similar fashion.
