Pakistan v South Africa
Wisden's review of the 29th match, Pakistan v South Africa
15-Apr-2016
At Auckland, March 7, 2015 (day/night). Pakistan won by 29 runs (D/L). Toss: South Africa.
The weapon of choice at this World Cup was a quick left-armer - and Pakistan had three. That proved decisive as Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz (the quickest and most aggressive) compensated for a poor batting display with three wickets apiece to win a game that should have been South Africa's. Earlier, the recalled Sarfraz Ahmed - who went on to equal Adam Gilchrist's World Cup record of six dismissals - hoisted Duminy for three midwicket sixes in the 16th over. But it was a rare bright spot in Pakistan's innings: Younis Khan contrived to lob the part-time slows of de Villiers to cover, leaving the onus on Misbah-ul-Haq. Rain intervened twice during the innings, reducing the match to 47 overs a side. There was no late revival as Pakistan crashed to 222 all out, but they were well served by a Duckworth/Lewis equation which added nine runs to the target. De Kock fell second ball, though Amla and du Plessis appeared to have weathered the early storm at 67 for one. But both were beaten for pace and caught behind in the space of five balls, Rossouw flapped a rapid bouncer off his eyebrows to long leg, and Miller was trapped in front. De Villiers fought a dashing, daring but lone battle in pursuit of a gloriously unlikely win, hitting five sixes from 58 balls, but Pakistan's compelling bowling performance merited victory - their first over South Africa at the World Cup in four attempts. NEIL MANTHORP
Man of the Match: Sarfraz Ahmed.
The weapon of choice at this World Cup was a quick left-armer - and Pakistan had three. That proved decisive as Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz (the quickest and most aggressive) compensated for a poor batting display with three wickets apiece to win a game that should have been South Africa's. Earlier, the recalled Sarfraz Ahmed - who went on to equal Adam Gilchrist's World Cup record of six dismissals - hoisted Duminy for three midwicket sixes in the 16th over. But it was a rare bright spot in Pakistan's innings: Younis Khan contrived to lob the part-time slows of de Villiers to cover, leaving the onus on Misbah-ul-Haq. Rain intervened twice during the innings, reducing the match to 47 overs a side. There was no late revival as Pakistan crashed to 222 all out, but they were well served by a Duckworth/Lewis equation which added nine runs to the target. De Kock fell second ball, though Amla and du Plessis appeared to have weathered the early storm at 67 for one. But both were beaten for pace and caught behind in the space of five balls, Rossouw flapped a rapid bouncer off his eyebrows to long leg, and Miller was trapped in front. De Villiers fought a dashing, daring but lone battle in pursuit of a gloriously unlikely win, hitting five sixes from 58 balls, but Pakistan's compelling bowling performance merited victory - their first over South Africa at the World Cup in four attempts. NEIL MANTHORP
Man of the Match: Sarfraz Ahmed.