T20 WC 2022, Gr 2, SA v PAK: Shadab's all-round hand (52, 2-16), Afridi's 3-14 help Pak win

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, Super 12, Group 2, Pakistan vs South Africa: Shadab Khan’s 52 and 2/16, Anrich Nortje’s 4/41 & Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 3/14 are top performances. Pakistan beat South Africa by 33 runs and move to third spot in points table.

Shadab's all-round show (52, 2-16) helps Pakistan beat South Africa (Photo: ©Getty Images)

Brief Scores: Pakistan 185/9 (Shadab 52, Iftikhar 51, Nortje 4/41) beat South Africa 108/9 (Target: 142 runs in 14 overs) (Bavuma 36, Afridi 3/14, Shadab 2/16) by 33 runs (D/L method)

Player of the Match: Shadab Khan – (52 and 2/16)

Pakistan, who lost their opening two matches on the last ball and won their third game against the Netherlands, went in for a do-or-die clash against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on Thursday in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. A win was required for Pakistan to keep them alive for the semis berth. South Africa, who were unbeaten so far, need to win one of their last two games to confirm a semis berth.

With their backs against the wall, Pakistan showed great intent with both bat and ball to beat a strong South African unit, who were unbeaten so far in the tournament. Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat first, but Pakistan were restricted to 68/4 in the first 10 overs. The momentum shifted thereafter, as Pakistan counter-attacked South African bowlers to post a total of 185/9. South African bowlers bowled poorly in the second half of the first innings amid pressure from Pakistan batters. Pakistan bowlers then bowled brilliantly to restrict South Africa to 108/9 to win by 33 runs via D/L method after rain had shortened South Africa’s target to 142 in 14 overs.

Pakistan overcome a slow start to post match-winning total

Pakistan lost their opener Mohammad Rizwan in the first over, but it didn’t stop them in their pursuit of going hard at South African bowlers. Mohammad Harris played a cameo amounting to an 11-ball 28 to make the best use of powerplay. However, Pakistan soon slumped to 43/4 by the 7th over.

Pakistan then built two quick stands to get on top of South Africa. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz posted a 52-run stand in 6.3 overs before Shadab Khan gave the finishing touches to the innings. Shadab slammed a 22-ball 52 with 3 fours and 4 sixes to take Pakistan to 185/9. He was well supported by Iftikhar who made a 35-ball 51. For South Africa, Anrich Nortje took 4/41.

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South Africa’s chase fizzles out

South Africa made the worst start to the chase, losing opener Quinton de Kock for a 5-ball duck off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who then dismissed Rilee Rossouw for 7 in his next over. Captain Temba Bavuma got some runs under his belt, racing to a 19-ball 36 before Shadab Khan dismissed the skipper and Aiden Markram for 20 in his first over. Rain interrupted the match, but not the momentum of Pakistan, who returned to restrict South Africa for 108/9 after a revised target of 142 in 14 overs was set for South Africa.

Let’s take a look at the top three performances from the game between Pakistan and South Africa in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Shadab's 52 off 32 took Pakistan's total to 185 vs South Africa (Photo: Getty Images)

Shadab Khan chips in with all-round performance (52 off 22, 2/16)

Shadab Khan’s performance with bat and ball was crucial to Pakistan’s win. He came out to bat with his side at 95/5 in the 13th over, and Pakistan needed him to score quickly to post a good total. Shadab got into the business straightaway. He took on South African pacers, especially Nortje, slamming the 2 straight sixes in the 19th over. He had earlier hit Nortje’s previous over for a six and a four. He didn’t even spare left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi as well, hitting a six and a four in the 15th over. He raced to his fifty off just 20 balls.

With the ball, Shadab ensured that there was no fightback from South Africa after two early wickets. In his first over, he got South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma to edge it behind, and Markram to play all over to be bowled.

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Nortje took 4-41 against Pakistan at Sydney (Photo: ©Getty Images)

Anrich Nortje picks four-fer

South Africa quick Anrich Nortje turned up with the best bowling figures for his team. He first dismissed the dangerous Mohammad Haris for 28, out LBW after playing across the line for a flick. Shan Masood fell to Nortje’s pace as Pakistan slumped to 43/4.

Although Nortje was taken apart by Shadab Khan in his last spell, the South African had the better of the Pakistani all-rounder, getting him to hole out in the deep. Nortje then dismissed Mohammad Wasim on the next ball to stop Pakistan from adding extra 10 runs.

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Shaheen took 3-14 against South Africa at Sydney (Photo: ©Getty Images)

Shaheen Shah Afridi provides early breakthroughs for Pakistan (3/14)

Shaheen Shah Afridi didn’t have a great tournament so far, but he put everything behind him to give Pakistan a great start. He made Quinton de Kock to top-edge for a five-ball duck and then got the in-form Rilee Rossouw to hole out at deep third man for 7.

Thanks to Afridi, Pakistan had South Africa on the backfoot straightaway, with the score reading 2/16. His first spell read 2-0-2-2. Post the rain break, he came back to dismiss the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen for 15 to end up with three for 14, and all but seal Pakistan’s hard-fought win.

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ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 Group 2 Points Table

Group 2 Points Table

Points Table Scenario & What’s Next

With this win, Pakistan have moved to the third spot with 4 points in 4 games with a net run rate (NRR) of 1.117. If South Africa (5 points from 4 games) and India (6 points from 4 games) win their last games against Netherlands and Zimbabwe, respectively, then Pakistan and Bangladesh will be eliminated and the last match between these two sides will just be of academic interest.

Pakistan need either South Africa or India to falter in their last game and must win their match against Bangladesh by a good margin to stay in the hunt for a semis berth.

South Africa just need to win their last game against the Netherlands to qualify for the semis with 7 points. If they lose against the Netherlands and if there is a win/loss result in the game between Pakistan and Bangladesh, then South Africa will have to bow out of the T20 World Cup.

The last three Group 2 games will be played on November 6.

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