Pakistan rout South Africa in warm-up

Published June 3, 2013
Hafeez plays a shot. -Photo by AP
Hafeez plays a shot. -Photo by AP
Pakistan's Junaid Khan, second left, celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa's Hashim Amla. -Photo by AP
Pakistan's Junaid Khan, second left, celebrates taking the wicket of South Africa's Hashim Amla. -Photo by AP

KARACHI: Pakistan fine-tuned their preparations for the Champions Trophy with an emphatic six-wicket victory over South Africa at The Oval on Monday.

Misbah-ul-Haq's team put South Africa into bat and restricted the Proteas to 202-9 before chasing down the target with 4.3 overs remaining thanks to half-centuries from Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez.

To make matters worse for South Africa, there was concern over pace bowler Dale Steyn, who was given only five overs and appeared to struggle with an injury.

South Africa will feature in the tournament curtain-raiser against India in Cardiff on Thursday, while Pakistan get underway a day later against the West Indies at The Oval.

Both sides utilised their squads during the 15-a-side clash, which allowed different batting and bowling XIs.

And Pakistan were quickly among the wickets as Junaid Khan dismissed Hashim Amla for a duck with the third ball of the day.

The Proteas' top order continued to struggle against the new ball and when Faf du Plessis was sixth out they had just 61 on the board.

Had they sent in authentic tailenders they would surely have struggled to reach three figures but instead they opted to give all their batsmen time at the crease and were rewarded with a 94-run stand between JP Duminy and Ryan McClaren.

That helped the total past 200 before McLaren was bowled by Asad Ali for 55, with Duminy the last man out for 43.

Ali and Wahab Riaz each returned three for 30.

Pakistan came out aggressively, going after South Africa's much-vaunted seam attack.

Nasir Jamshed hit a six and a four prior to being run out, but Farhat carried on to make 56 before becoming the first of two Lonwabo Tsotsobe wickets.

Hafeez retired after scoring 54, leaving Misbah (24 not out) and Umar Amin (27 not out) to finish the job.

Opinion

Editorial

Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...
Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...