CT 2017: Match 7, PAK v SA – 5 Game Changing Moments

In the seventh match of the Champions Trophy, steady rains yet again stole the show as the match between Pakistan and South Africa was abandoned due to the persistent showers at Kennington Oval, London. Pakistan went on to win the match by 19 runs by Duck-Worth Lewis method.

After winning the toss, South Africa had no hesitation to bat first but faced a resolute bowling attack which made their life difficult. South Africans somehow managed to reach a total of 219, due to excellent spells of bowling from Hassan Ali and Imad Wasim. David Miller was the shining star for the South Africans with the bat.

Chasing the total, before rain interrupted play, important cameos from Shoaib Malik and Fakhar Zaman helped them go over the requisite score to clinch the match by DLS method. With this win, Group B opens up with South Africa and Pakistan each holding two points in two games.

1. Imad Wasim’s double strike

Imad Wasim had a torrid outing against the Indians and faced the brunt of all the criticism after their humiliating loss to their arch rivals. However, the left armer made justice to his selection by picking up two back-to-back wickets against the Proteas to change the game around for his side. He picked up the prized wicket of Hashim Amla and removed AB de Villiers the very first ball he faced. In his spell of eight overs, he conceded only 20 runs at an economy of 2.5, thereby putting the batting-heavy South African order in the backfoot.

2. Hassan Ali’s dream spell

Apart from Imad Wasim, Hassan Ali too was heavily criticised for his contribution with the ball against India. The seamer put to rest all his criticism with his outstanding spell of swing bowling. First up, he took the wicket of the well set Faf du Plessis and followed it up by removing Jean-Paul Duminy in quick succession with the help of the swinging. The two dismissals of the South Africans batting line-up put them in a position from where coming into the match became difficult. He picked three wickets and the man of the match trophy for his brilliant spell of 24-3.

3. David Miller’s contribution with lower order

David Miller came in to bat when the South Africans were precariously placed at 90-4. Shortly after his arrival, South Africans lost Jean-Paul Duminy and Wayne Parnell in quick succession. Together with Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris, Miller stitched important partnerships to put his side in a respectable position.

He scored a brilliant 75 off 104 balls, finishing the SA innings with 3 sixes and a boundary in his knock full of hard runs. It was only due to his contribution with the lower order the South Africans managed to put a target of 220 in front of the South Africa.

4. Cameos from debutant Fakhar Zaman and Shoaib Malik

After the match-winning effort from the bowlers, the onus was then on the batsman to take their side towards victory to stay alive in the tournament. Debutant Fakhar Zaman was an unknown commodity before the start of the match and he raised many eyebrows with the manner with which he was striking the ball.

In the overcast conditions of England, South African pace attack would always pose a threat but Zaman paid no respect to the likes of Rabada, Parnell and Morris as he scored a quick-fire 31 off 23 balls, smashing 4 fours, to make a statement in front of the Proteas. The impetus provided by Shoaib Malik proved to be detrimental taking into account the Duck-Worth Lewis method requirements. His 16 off just 14 balls, in the end, created the difference in the match.

5. Triple strikes from Morkel

Morkel ensured that the South Africans were in the game even after the explosive start from the openers with the three wickets he chipped in with. In just the second over of his spell, Morkel first removed the dangerous looking Zaman by delivering a beauty around the wicket, which the debutant nicked to Hashim Amla. A delivery later, Morkel removed Azhar Ali who tried to cut one over the third man, only to be stunned by the brilliance of Imran Tahir.

Just when the partnership between Hafeez and Babar Azam was beginning to take away the game from the men in yellow, Morkel came back it dismissed Mohammad Hafeez who was stunned yet again by taking a blinder at fine leg this time.