Pakistan hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the 2017 ODI World Cup have become much more difficult as a result of their latest defeat. The Babar Azam-led team found it difficult to get going while they were batting first since they were losing wickets frequently.
Leading from the front, Babar scored a half-century, but the skipper was removed as soon as he reached the milestone. Even though Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan contributed effectively towards the finish to assist the team get 270 runs, it was insufficient.
Quinton de Kock got off to a quick start in the chase, scoring 19 runs in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening over. The stumper-batter, however, was unable to capitalize and was removed early.
As a result, Aiden Markram proved his mettle by hitting 91 runs to secure victory for South Africa. The game was wide open after his removal, which added to the drama, but the Proteas prevailed to guarantee their place in the top four.
Pakistani batters are unable to score any runs.
Following their half-centuries, Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam returned to the pavilion. They were supposed to assist Pakistan in posting a manageable total given the start, but things didn’t work out that way. The batters from Pakistan lost because they were unable to perform well under duress once more.
Aiden Markram taking the lead
Aiden Markram, a well-known spin specialist, struck 91 runs in the middle of the Chennai surface, indicating that the surface fit him well. The 29-year-old batted brilliantly, and even though Proteas occasionally lost wickets, he continued to build the innings till he was out.
Bad strategy and non-execution
Pakistan appears to be a team without a strategy for the most part of the game, and their bowling unit is lacking in quality. They appear to rely more on individual skill, which hasn’t served them well in the current ODI World Cup. Though he rarely received assistance from his teammates, Shaheen Shah Afridi has occasionally completed tasks.
Losing skipper Babar Azam said:
We are very close, we did not finish well. Very disappointing for the whole team. We fought back very well. In the batting we were 10-15 short. The fast bowlers and spinners fought well but unfortunately it was not to be. It is part of the game, in DRS it is part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favored us. We have an opportunity to win this and stay in the race but not to be. We will try our best in the next 3 matches and put our efforts and play for Pakistan. Let’s see where we will stand after that.
Winning skipper Temba Bavuma said:
It is chaos at the moment. The guys are enjoying the moment. The guys are picking up Shamsi. Chaos at the moment. Nail-biting finish, if you are a South African fan, you will be happy. Pressure with us chasing, we haven’t done well to rectify that.
It will be easier to have those conversations especially after the win. You need to have the guys in the best situations and truly speak out as to what they were thinking. Hard to say now but those conversations will happen. It is something we have spoken and something which has been thrown about. We have a blueprint when we bat first, we can’t say with conviction we have that when we are cashing.
We want to be a lot more clinical with the bat. That’s nice to hear. KG (Rabada) is good, it was more precautionary, he is experiencing lower back issues and a couple of days rest before New Zealand and he will be in contention. Ecstatic for Shamsi, started with the ball, came in when conditions were helpful and then with the bat. We have seen Shamsi gloating on social media about his batting. It won’t stop for the next two weeks but it’s nice for a senior guy like Shamsi to come out with the bat like that.
POTM Tabraiz Shamsi said:
Really happy. I knew I had to do a job there, but the guys before me set it up. Credit goes to those guys too. I’ve played enough cricket to know sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn’t. I didn’t expect to be here with my pads on doing this interview.
(On the last over) If I tried to play a big shot and if it didn’t come off, the boys wouldn’t welcome me back to the change room. So there was no doubt in my mind that I had to just defend and get Kesh on strike. These are the kind of moments you dream of, to be in the middle at the end and win your team a game. Kesh was unbelievable out there
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