Shadab show helps Pakistan keep semi-final hopes alive

Pakistan kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a crucial victory over South Africa in a rain-soaked Super 12 encounter between the two sides at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Shadab Khan starred with both bat and ball for Pakistan in this must-win fixture, the all-rounder smashing a magnificent 22-ball 52 to take his side to 185 for nine before picking up the two key wickets of Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram to derail the South African run-chase.

The Proteas resumed their innings after the rain break with 75 needed off 30 balls, but some excellent death bowling from Pakistan saw Temba Bavuma’s side suffer their first defeat of the tournament by 33 runs.

Having won the toss and opted to bat, Pakistan’s famed opening partnership of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan suffered another disappointing outing in Sydney as both top-order batters departed for single figures inside the powerplay.

Replacing the injured Fakhar Zaman in the squad, Mohammad Haris helped Pakistan maximise the powerplay and field restrictions with a fiery cameo of 28 from 11 deliveries. However, Anrich Nortje trapped the number three on his pads in the fifth over before deceiving Shan Masood with a knuckleball to leave Pakistan reeling at 43 for four.

Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed steadied the ship with a half-century partnership which included some lusty blows against Rabada and Shamsi before Shadab Khan’s arrival in the 13th over changed the complexion of the innings. The all-rounder smashed four sixes and three fours on his way to a 20-ball half-century and shared an 82-run partnership in just 35 deliveries with Iftikhar that took Pakistan to an above-par score of 185.

In reply, South Africa lost their two premier left-handers – Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw – inside the first three overs to Shaheen Shah Afridi, but Temba Bavuma ensured the Proteas got off to a good start as he took on Haris Rauf. The Pakistani pacer conceded 37 runs in his opening two overs and was taken to task by the South African skipper and Aiden Markram, with the Proteas scoring 65 runs in the first seven overs.

However, Shadab Khan turned the game once again as he sent back both set batters in the space of three deliveries, restricting South Africa to 69 for four in nine overs before the rain came. The Proteas had a revised target of 142 in 14 overs after the delay, but the Pakistani seamers used their changes of pace to expert effect to concede just 13 runs in the last three overs and close out the game comfortably by 33 runs.

South Africa and India are still the favourites to qualify for the semi-finals despite this result, but if any of the two sides lose their final Super 12 fixture, Pakistan could make the final four with a win over Bangladesh in Adelaide.