Pace bowlers set up victory against Proteas in final match before the ICC Champions Trophy group match against the West Indies

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl.

Teams:

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Rehman, Asad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ehsan Adil, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz 

Australia: Alvaro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Rory Kleinveldt, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne Morkel

South Africa Innings

Pakistan went through rigorous training as the South Africans opted for a lighter warm-up routine on a sunny day at The Oval and it showed, as Pakistan looked very focused from the first ball. 

Juniad Khan and Asad Ali opened the bowling and both bowlers found movement with the new balls, both in the air and off the seam. Both bowlers bowled six overs up-front as South Africa were reduced to 43 for 3 after the compulsory powerplay overs. Juniad trapped Hashim Amla lbw off the third ball of the innings. Ingram (7) was the next to go, run out by a sharp bit of fielding by Misbah-ul-Haq. AB de Villiers looked in good touch as he played some crisp cut shots for four as he looked to counter-attack, but edged behind to a delivery which seamed away from Asad Ali which was pouched by Kamran Akmal. 

Asad Ali has been very impressive in the warm-up games and may well have created a selection dilemma for the Pakistani think-tank and he struck again in the 12th over as an Alvaro Petersen heave was caught by Rehman inside the circle. When Pakistan had arrived in England, Junaid and Irfan were considered certainties after impressive displays on the tours of both India and South Africa. 

Ehsan Adil and Wahab Riaz replaced the two opening bowlers and also looked in good rhythm. Wahab bowled with good pace and rapped David Miller on the helmet, while Ehsan cramped the batsmen with a spell of accurate bowling and at the 15-over drinks break, South Africa were 59/4

After the drinks break, Wahab bowled a spell of 3 for 18, removing du Plessis (7), Behardien (1), Miller (26) as he carried his enthusiasm from the warm-ups earlier in the morning to the middle. Bowlers capable of taking wickets in the middle overs of a 50-over match are rare, and it may well be a trait the Pakistani management consider is worthwhile having, despite his potential to blow hot and cold. South Africa were 83/7 after 22 overs and a shortened match day appeared likely. 

However, the option for sides to substitute players from any of their 15-man Champions Trophy squad ensured South Africa had Duminy and McLaren down the order and their 94-run 8th wicket partnership ensured South Africa completed their 50 overs, despite Junaid and Asad returning to remove both batsmen. 

South Africa ended their innings on 202/9, a target which could have been considerably lower had Pakistan not lost their intensity after getting South Africa 7 wickets down. 


Fall Of Wickets

1-1 (Amla, 0.3 ov), 
2-14 (Ingram, 3.5 ov), 
3-43 (de Villiers, 9.5 ov), 
4-48 (Petersen, 11.5 ov), 
5-61 (du Plessis, 15.5 ov), 
6-67 (Behardien, 17.1 ov), 
7-83 (Miller, 21.6 ov), 
8-177 (McLaren, 44.3 ov), 
9-188 (Duminy, 47.4 ov) 


Pakistan Innings

Pakistan started their innings in confident fashion, with Farhat cutting the first delivery for four, off Steyn. Jamshed also looked in good touch, the highlight being a pull for six off Steyn, and then four off the subsequent free-hit. The ease with which they were negotiating the attack made the suicidal single which saw Jamshed run-out all the more difficult to fathom, as Amla pounced and threw down the stumps from close range. 

Hafeez then came out and joined Farhat and the two looked comfortable. Hafeez was the aggressor, driving the South African bowlers fluently. Hafeez eventually retired out on 54 (71), allowing Asad Shafiq to come to the crease. A decidedly-sketchy Asad Shafiq battled hard, but Farhat (56) fell first, trying to smash Tsotsobe over the top. Shafiq followed soon after and it was left to fluent left-hander Umar Amin and captain Misbah-ul-Haq to carry Pakistan to victory.


Fall Of Wickets

1-35 (Nasir Jamshed, 4.5 ov),
2-120 (Mohammad Hafeez, 24.6 ov), 
3-150 (Imran Farhat, 32.6 ov), 
4-156 (Asad Shafiq, 34.3 ov)


Match Summary:

The ideal match for Misbah-ul-Haq, as his pace bowlers restricted South Africa to a manageable total and the top order, which has been a worry in recent times, looked comfortable. Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Irfan were not utilsed, and it will be interesting to see how the side lines up against the West Indies in the first match of the Champions Trophy on Friday. 


Next Game:

Friday 7 June, Pakistan vs. West Indies , The Oval, London.

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