And with that, I’m off. Thanks for reading, and a quick reminder to join Simon Burnton for the rest of Ireland v Zimbabwe.
Here’s the match report from this one.
Heady stuff: if/when Ireland win this, they'll be level on points with SA, with a game in hand...
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) March 7, 2015
Interesting that all but one of the dismissals in the South African innings were caught behind the wicket - six to keeper Ahmed, two at fine leg and one in the slips. The sages have been insisting that bowlers absolutely must pitch the ball up, but a good proportion of those wickets came about through some expert use of the short ball with some excellent length deliveries as well, and only one dismissal came about through a proper, pitched-up delivery.
AB de Villiers doesn’t sound massively impressed. And rightly so:
We are still in a good position in the group, but I never like to lose. We were shocking with the bat. We have been under pressure many times in the last few years and come out on top. I still believe we have the right group here to lift the trophy. It wasn’t easy (batting under lights). Still, a good enough wicket to chase that down, no reason we shouldn’t have chased it down.
That was a corker of a game, and another such affair is shaping up in Hobart, as Zimbabwe chase a target of 332 set by Ireland. Join Simon Burnton for the remainder of that one.
More or less as soon as Ahmed took that final catch, it started absolutely belting down with rain.
The group is now balanced precariously, with both South Africa and Pakistan on six points, trailing India on eight. Both teams should - should - still qualify, but a couple of defeats already for a South African side with designs on winning the tournament is not exactly ideal.
Well, well, well. Make no mistake, this was very much more about a brilliant Pakistan bowling performance rather than a South African choke, with Rahat, Irfan and Riaz all delivering quite majestic performances. De Villiers provided the only real resistance from South Africa, but it wasn’t quite enough. A hat tip to Sarfraz Ahmed too, who took a few marvellous catches in order to finish with a tally of six.
WICKET! Tahir c Ahmed b Riaz 0 - PAKISTAN WIN BY 29 RUNS
Morkel dabs a single down to third man, and a nation gulps as Tahir takes strike. He doesn’t do their collective cardiac states much good by vaguely offering the bat outside off, then causes said hearts to sink by playing a similar shot next up, but this time getting an edge through to the keeper.
33rd over: South Africa 201-9 (Morkel 5, Tahir 0) - South Africa require another 31 runs to win
Imran Tahir is the new man, and to say he looks rather uncomfortable is quite the understatement. Sohail bowls a wide, then an absolutely terrific yorker that Tahir just - just - digs out.
WICKET! De Villiers c Ahmed b Sohail 77 (South Africa 200/9 - they require another 32 runs to win)
Sohail in again, and De Villiers swipes at one just outside off, he gets an edge but this man is so charmed that it scoots along the floor through the vacant first slip for four. But no! Not so charmed any more! OUT! OUT! AB De Villiers is out! He comes down the track and plays a shot that didn’t quite fit the ball, swinging at a length ball and gets an edge through to the keeper! South Africa need another 32 with one wicket, and crucially there’s no more AB!
32nd over: South Africa 196-8 (Morkel 5, De Villiers 73) - South Africa require another 36 runs to win
Riaz is back into the attack, but he offers De Villiers a full toss which is duly carted miles over mid-wicket. Then there’s another boundary, this time a four as De Villiers backs away and slaps a cut to more or less the exact opposite side of the ground. He dabs a single down to third man, then perhaps says a Hail Mary as he prays to everything holy that Morkel just keeps the bloody thing out. Bafflingly, Morkel wafts at one way wide, lofting the thing down to third man which is safe, but no single is taken. Silly shot, that.
Updated
31st over: South Africa 185-8 (Morkel 5, De Villiers 62) - South Africa require another 47 runs to win
Sohail is back into the attack, and South Africa take the batting powerplay. In an act of superb japery, De Villiers then casually leaves the first ball of the over, but very much does not the second, ambling down the pitch and swatting the thing past a diving mid-on and to the ropes. He tries a repeat next up but this time finds the fielder, and perhaps surprisingly takes the one, Morkel returning the favour next ball as the big man lumbers home. De Villiers flips another single off his knees, then Sohail bowls a daft ball which is high and wide, and is called as such.
Updated
30th over: South Africa 177-8 (Morkel 4, De Villiers 56) - South Africa require another 55 runs to win
Morkel is the new man in, and surely now De Villiers is going to really go ape. Although Morkel offers a helping hand by playing an absolutely textbook cut just in front of point for a boundary. The next one he pushes at indeterminately, and it drops just past and in front of point - a leisurely single is there, but we’ve reached the point where De Villiers isn’t giving up any strike, and he sends Morkel back.
Updated
WICKET! Abbott c Younus b Rahat 12 (South Africa are 172-7, they require another 60 runs to win)
Abbott starts the new over with a shot that might make Mark Nicholas say ‘Oh yah’, pushing the thing down the ground and to the fence. Not so lucky next up though, fencing at one around off stump and giving Younus catching practice in the slips, pouching a low one to really put South Africa in the doo-doo.
29th over: South Africa 168-7 (Abbott 8, De Villiers 56) - South Africa require another 64 runs to win
A couple of singles, before De Villiers cuts loose again, launching successive sixes - the first after skipping down the track and clearing the comically short mid-off ropes, before dropping to one knee and blooting a slog-sweep over deep square leg. Magnificent work.
Updated
28th over: South Africa 154-7 (Abbott 7, De Villiers 43) - South Africa require another 78 runs to win
Abbott defends into the pitch and De Villiers is virtually up his end of the pitch for a single before he can fully ensure the ball won’t spin back and hit the stumps. De Villiers then slashes one rapidly over point and picks up a boundary, before pushing down the ground for a single. Abbott gets staunchly behind the rest of the over - if batting style = life, which is surely doesn, Abbott’s approach suggests he’d be the man you’d call if your car broke down, or you needed a shelf putting up.
27th over: South Africa 148-7 (Abbott 6, De Villiers 38) - South Africa require another 84 runs to win
De Villiers plants his foot and takes a big swipe at a sweep, misses and it hits his front pad. Afridi appeals at length, but it looks to be a good way outside the line, was a long way down the track and was turning away, so the umpire says no but in the spirit of eternal optimism Pakistan send it upstairs. Unsurprisingly, the answer is no. A leg-bye, among all of that. Afridi strays leg side and Abbott gets the finest of clips, sending it to the boundary which it reaches despite the efforts of the fielder, whose trousers slip down in a moment of terrific comedic slapstick.
26th over: South Africa 142-7 (Abbott 1, De Villiers 38) - South Africa require another 90 runs to win
De Villiers is about a foot away from the game disappearing for South Africa after cuffing a bad pull just - just - over the fielder at short mid-wicket. He thought he was toast, but it lands safely and they get one, before Abbott shrewdly gets a single to return De Villiers to business end. Problems now for Pakistan as Irfan appears to have twanged something, and from the area the physiotherapist is working on, it looks an awful lot like his right glute. After some treatment he’s back, and De Villiers slaps a pull that should be fielded, but it goes through mid-wicket and they collect a single.
25th over: South Africa 139-7 (Abbott 0, De Villiers 36) - South Africa require another 93 runs to win
De Villiers happy to give new man Kyle Abbott the strike, and Afridi has him in something of a pickle with a nicely-bowled googly that doesn’t miss the stumps by much. He gets behind the rest of the over solidly. Going to be tight, tight, tight, this one.
24th over: South Africa 138-7 (Abbott 0, De Villiers 35) - South Africa require another 94 runs to win
Silly Steyn. Naughty Steyn. Bad Steyn.
WICKET! Steyn c Ahmed b Irfan 16 (South Africa 138-7 - they require another 94 runs to win)
Oy vey. Steyn chucks absolutely everything at a short one from Irfan getting a thick edge that flies a few feet over first slip’s head to the boundary, and he gets another four with a remarkable effort, a sort of wrist-rolled, top-spin, flat-batted straight pull through mid-on. However, he takes one big wipe too many, swinging at one he could very easily have left to safely pass the strike back to De Villiers, only succeeding in getting an edge through to Ahmed who takes a routine catch.
23rd over: South Africa 130-6 (Steyn 8, De Villiers 35) - South Africa require another 102 runs to win
Afridi has the ball, and De Villiers pushes a single first up. Steyn plays out the over slightly skittishly, with AB very keen to get a single and retrieve the strike, but the run only comes off the last ball of the over.
22nd over: South Africa 128-6 (Steyn 7, De Villiers 34) - South Africa require another 104 runs to win
Steyn flashes outside off in a manner that one might not call wise (his job from here is to get out of the bloody way and watch AB do his thing), but there’s enough spin on the ball to befuddle the fielder at third man, and it eludes him like an errant bar of soap, going through his legs for four. A more orthodox and controlled shot follows though, as Steyn pushes quite nicely through the vacant mid-off spot for three. De Villiers dabs a single to third man for his 1,000th run in World Cup games. Decent effort, I suppose.
21st over: South Africa 120-6 (Steyn 0, De Villiers 33) - South Africa require another 112 runs to win
AB more or less has to do this on his own now, and he starts the task with a delicious short-handed push off his thighs, which skips just in front of square for a boundary. Riaz then sends down a rapid but rather wild bouncer that is called a wide, and Ahmed did absolutely superbly to catch and prevent more extras. De Villiers then indicates that he might want to get this done the old-fashioned way, as he rocks back and fairly creams a pull way over fine leg for six. Riaz comes around the wicket, but it doesn’t work terribly well, as De Villiers edges across the stumps a little and batters a slightly flatter six just over the ropes. 17 from the over, and this is what we wanted to see.
20th over: South Africa 103-6 (Steyn 0, De Villiers 17) - South Africa require another 129 runs to win
De Villiers throws new batsman Dale Steyn straight into the action by taking a single (the batsman crossed while the ball was in the air), and Ifran welcomes him with a bumper that whistles past the nose.
Updated
WICKET! Duminy c Riaz b Irfan 12 (South Africa 102-6, they require another 130 wickets to win)
The South African 100 comes up as Duminy clips four off his hips from Irfan, back into the attack, which inspires Misbah to pop a leg slip in. All about hunches, the captaincy game. No hunches required for the next ball though, as Duminy tries to pull another short ball in front of square, but only succeeds in top-edging the thing right up in the air, and Riaz takes a solid catch at fine leg.
19th over: South Africa 98-5 (Duminy 8, De Villiers 16) - South Africa require another 134 runs to win
Duminy gets a smart single, then De Villiers sort of half backs away, half sways out of the road of a shortish one from Riaz, but nonetheless jabs a late cut down for a single. Lots of short stuff here, but perhaps one too many as Riaz sends down a bouncer deemed too high, and that’s a wide. Riaz then saves what probably would’ve been a boundary from a straight push by De Villiers with a nice diving stop. Meanwhile, the old Batman theme plays over the PA, for some reason.
18th over: South Africa 94-5 (Duminy 6, De Villiers 15) - South Africa require another 138 runs to win
You don’t want to mention the choke word, but if South Africa carry on with stuff like this, we might have to - Duminy shovels the ball sort of to mid-wicket, De Villiers gets halfway down the track for a single that was never there and survives only thanks to an errant throw from a tumbling Rahat. The over ends with a good bouncer from Rahat, but one that in another innings, De Villiers might well have taken a swing at. Two singles from the over.
Oooh! A direct hit from the bowler Rahat could have had AB there. The last two World Cup matches SA have lost, AB was run-out in both
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 7, 2015
Updated
17th over: South Africa 92-5 (Duminy 5, De Villiers 14) - South Africa require another 140 runs to win
The counter-punch is on, it seems. De Villiers plays a nice shot off his legs which goes out to the straight mid-wicket boundary, which Irfan reaches before it crosses the ropes but, in a moment of slapstick only exacerbated by the big man’s absurdly long limbs, he slips over in a manner that could only have been improved by the sound of a swanee whistle. The next ball is a rather more orthodox four, De Villiers cutting out to the cover fence, a shot he repeats next up but Misbah, cunning old fox that he is, has put a fielder there that limits the damage to a single. De Villiers then walks across his stumps, but his plans are somewhat scuppered by a short ball, which he still helps out to fine leg for a single. Good comeback over for South Africa.
16th over: South Africa 81-5 (Duminy 4, De Villiers 4) - South Africa require another 151 runs to win
This really is superb bowling from the Pakistan left-arm quicks, but new batsman JP Duminy breezily drives his first ball down the ground and to the ropes, like he’s arrived at the crease with his side 300-2 rather than floundering at five down.
WICKET! Miller lbw b Rahat 0 (South Africa 77-5 - they require another 155 runs to win)
De Villiers swipes one off his pads for a single, before Miller plays all around one just outside off from Rahat, which was a horrible-looking shot but a very decent ball. These bowlers are on point so far. And Rahat forces that point home with gusto with a wonderful, in-dipping yorker that bangs into Miller’s toes. The finger goes up, the batsman reviews but more in hope than expectation, the ball smashing into middle and leg, and that is out. Woof.
15th over: South Africa 76-4 (Miller 0, De Villiers 3) - South Africa require another 156 runs to win
De Villiers pushes between mids on and off for a single to start the over, then Miller is bamboozled, befuddled and bewitched by a glorious delivery from Riaz, that pitched in a manner that convinced the batsman to play a shot aiming for mid-on, but moved off the seam enough to miss the outside edge by a reasonable distance. Good contest, this.
14th over: South Africa 75-4 (Miller 0, De Villiers 2) - South Africa require another 157 runs to win
Blimey. AB plays a deeply curious shot, which if you’re being uber, uber-generous you might call an attempted guide to third man, but was in fact a confused waft outside off, and he was lucky to miss it, really. He then leaves one that, if there was another bail on top of the existing one, might have clipped the top of the wicket, before finally getting a run with a tuck behind square-leg that you’d struggle to call convincing.
13th over: South Africa 74-4 (Miller 0, De Villiers 1) - South Africa require another 158 runs to win
David Miller is the new man - be good here if both batsmen, not players shy of going for it, just started smacking the thing around the park as their way of getting out of trouble. Not much Miller can do about his second ball, mind, a snorter of a bouncer that takes a coat of paint off his nose. If his nose was painted. A third wicket maiden in four overs.
WICKET! Rossouw c Sohail b Riaz 6 (South Africa 74-4 - they require another 158 runs to win)
Hello. Well this is very interesting, as Rossouw spins into a rapid hook that catches the top edge and drops neatly between the palms of Sohail at fine leg. Pakistan/South Africa are doing their best to make a game of this, depending on your point of view.
12th over: South Africa 74-3 (Rossouw 6, De Villiers 1) - South Africa require another 158 runs to win
Rossouw gets off the mark with a jab down the pitch that Rahat half-stops, and they go through for a single. De Villiers follows his lead with a tuck off the hips, before Rossouw rocks back and tries to pull over mid-wicket, only getting a thick top-edge that plops over mid-on, but nonetheless just about dribbles to the ropes.
11th over: South Africa 67-3 (Rossouw 0, De Villiers 0) - South Africa require another 165 runs to win
Here’s AB, and Riaz greets him with a cracking shortish one that acts as a cricketing version of smelling salts, at least letting the new man know he’s awake. No runs though, and a second wicket maiden in a row has given Pakistan a sniff.
Updated
WICKET! Amla c Ahmed b Riaz 38 (South Africa 67-3 - they require another 165 runs to win)
Now then. Wahab Riaz is the new bowler, and he strikes first up as Amla tries a late cut that is a little too late, arriving only in time to nick one through to the keeper who takes a brilliant one-handed catch down to his right. There’s a brief moment where the umpires check it carried, even though it very clearly had. Makes it interesting, at least.
Updated
10th over: South Africa 67-2 (Rossouw 0, Amla 38) - South Africa require another 165 runs to win
Riley Rossouw is the new man in, and frankly I can’t understand why there hasn’t been a riot that he’s been sent in ahead of De Villiers. WE WANT AB! WE WANT AB! WE WANT AB! Bah, this is rubbish. Anyway, it’s a wicket maiden.
WICKET! Du Plessis c Ahmed b Rahat 27 (South Africa require another 165 runs to win)
Du Plessis’s rather uneven innings comes to a close, as Rahat slides one across him, and Faf jabs at it outside off but can only get an edge through to the keeper.
9th over: South Africa 67-1 (Du Plessis 27, Amla 38)
Shahid Afridi is thrown the ball, and he at least manages to stem the Amla tide a little, restricting the great man to just a two off the th...oh, no, wait - there’s a rancid long-up outside off that Amla treats with the contempt it deserves by sending it to the cover point fence, post-haste.
Meanwhile, a frustrated spectator writes...
@NickMiller79 Embarrassing to watch such a lacklustre Pakistan, has anyone checked if they've been paid their dues?
— Uma Venkatraman (@uvr2002) March 7, 2015
8th over: South Africa 61-1 (Du Plessis 27, Amla 32)
Those runs have taken Amla to the top of the run-scoring charts for this World Cup, so another bowler has a go at stopping them, Rahat Ali the new sentient bowling machine to provide the glorified throw-downs for an Amla lovely-fest. He faces Du Plessis first though, but a short one aimed vaguely at Faf’s throat is top-edged over the absurdly straight boundary for the first six of the innings, before a slightly less short but no more effective effort is helped just backward of square for another boundary.
7th over: South Africa 51-1 (Du Plessis 17, Amla 32)
It’s a great contrast between the two batsman at the moment. Amla is batting with that sort of airy freedom that, if you knew him, would probably make you hate him if he wasn’t such a nice guy, while Du Plessis is rather more ragged. Still, it’s not working out too badly, as Du Plessis helps a pull off his hips past fine leg for four, before collecting a single with a streaky inside edge to the same fielder. Amla helps himself to another four with a clip off his pads that is more flicky, flourishy follow-through than backlift, before a rare shot that isn’t upsettingly beautiful, a slightly ropey, mistimed pull just wide of mid-on. Still gets four, mind. What. A. Player.
6th over: South Africa 38-1 (Du Plessis 12, Amla 24)
The Saffers starting to get going now. Du Plessis gets three with a cut of his own, this one rather less pretty but admittedly still effective, before Amla brings back the aesthetics with an offensively effortless drive just by Misbah at mid-off for four. Sohail then drops a little shorter and is carted over straight mid-wicket for another boundary, then another back-of-a-lengther is nailed through point to the opposite boundary.
5th over: South Africa 23-1 (Du Plessis 9, Amla 12)
Irfan comes around the wicket to Du Plessis, who continues his rather skittish form thus far by just about getting behind one that tucks him, and dashing through for a quick single. Amla then plays one of those vaguely dismissive cuts through the gap at cover, where he flashes the blade and admires the shot, giving you only just enough time to watch the ball reach the fence.
4th over: South Africa 18-1 (Du Plessis 8, Amla 8)
Erratic start to the over for Du Plessis, firstly cut in half by one from Sohail, then providing the very definition of ‘only two types of leave’ by allowing one to pass within a ball’s width of the off peg. He then walks all across his stumps and a bit forward, struck bang in front of middle but as the ostentatious rubbing of his thigh indicates, that was a little high and they take a run. Amla then plays a slightly streaky (by his magnificently elegant standards) drive between slip and gully for four.
Updated
Over in t’other game, Ed Joyce has a century as Ireland are on their way to a half-decent total against Zimbabwe. Another pathetic effort from the associates then - good on the ICC for getting rid of these upstart goons from the next tournament. Follow that one with Dan Lucas here.
3rd over: South Africa 13-1 (Du Plessis 7, Amla 4)
Irfan lumbers in - and he does lumber - but Du Plessis punches in that jabby style of his back down the pitch, the ball reaching the boundary despite a half-stop from the keeper. He then pushes into the covers, takes a super-risky single that he only survives after an errant throw at the stumps, which Du Plessis then absolutely wipes out with a rather ungainly dive into his ground. A short delay as the woodwork is rearranged, with the groundsman’s hammer required to sort out the mess the stumps made of the turf, before Amla plays out the rest of the over without drama.
2nd over: South Africa 8-1 (Du Plessis 2, Amla 4)
Sohail Khan is the new bowler, and he begins with a bona fide jaffa, squaring Du Plessis up and not missing that edge by a great deal. However, he spoils things rather by sending down a couple of leg-side wides, then asking the umpire to keep his legs closed. Not as rum as that sounds - Bruce Oxenford had his feet in quite a wide stance, and since Sohail gets within a Finnian distance to the stumps, it was cramping his style a little. Just another single from the over.
1st over: South Africa 5-1 (Du Plessis 1, Amla 4)
Faf du Plessis is the new man, and he gets off the mark with a quick push into the gap at cover. Amla then gives this early score a slightly less comic look by feathering a fine leg glance past Ahmed for four.
WICKET! De Kock c Ahmed b Irfan 0 (South Africa 0/1 - they require another 232 runs to win)
Well stone me. What a start for Pakistan, as De Kock fishes at the second ball outside off - a belter, by the way - and gets an edge through to the keeper. He’s pretty cross with life, as you might imagine.
Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock will open for the Saffers, Mohammad Irfan the man with the ball.
Morning all. If it’s morning where you are. Which it might not be. Sorry. Going to be very disappointed if AB doesn’t knock this lot off in about 10 overs.
South Africa require 232 runs to win
A little bit of Duckworth-Lewising of the total, off a rain-affected 47 overs. At one stage, it looked liked the Proteas would need 240 from 40. That looks a wholly gettable total – Pakistan could only add 25 runs after the rain break; that may prove their undoing.
Thanks for joining me; now I’ve worked you around the crease, here comes Nick Miller to take your bails off.
WICKET! Sohail c Duminy b Morkel 3 (Pakistan all out for 222)
Morkel will finish off the innings, and after Irfan gets himself off strike with a single off a leg stump yorker, it’s up to Sohail to see out the over. He fails, picking out Duminy as he tried to slog over midwicket. Pakistan, facing seven overs with five wickets in hand, have been skittled.
46 overs: Pakistan 221-9 (Sohail 3, Irfan 0)
Steyn throws the kitchen sink at Sohail, tossing in a yorker amid a cluster of brutish short balls, but can’t make the breakthrough. No matter: the seamer finishes with figures of 3-30 from his ten overs.
WICKET! Rahat c Tahir b Steyn 1 (Pakistan 221-9)
Pakistan returned from the rain break on 197-5. They will do well to see out the last few balls now. Rahat is unlucky here, wafting a drive towards long off that goes over Tahir’s head - but it’s another great catch, Tahir watching it all the way and diving forward to bring it in as it looped over him.
45 overs: Pakistan 220-8 (Sohail 2, Rahat 1)
Just two more from the over, as Sohail and Rahat concentrate on keeping Morne Morkel at bay. You’d have to say AB de Villiers’ decision to save his seamers for the latter stages has paid off. I’ll never doubt him again.
44 overs: Pakistan 218-8 (Sohail 1, Rahat 0)
Suddenly, it looks a struggle for Pakistan to complete the 47 overs.
WICKET! Misbah b Steyn c Morkel 56 (Pakistan 218-8)
Steyn finally sees off Misbah-ul-Haq, ripping in a short bouncer which the Pakistan captain edges to Morkel at third man. Misbah goes for 56 – a long, sometimes attritional, but very important knock. With rain delays, it was a full three hours from walking out to getting out for Misbah.
Updated
43.5 overs: Pakistan 218-7 (Misbah 56, Sohail 1)
Dreadful start to the over from Steyn, sending down a delivery on the leg side which goes for four leg byes. He gets his act together, sending down three dot balls to Misbah which keep the batsman guessing...
43 overs: Pakistan 214-7 (Misbah 56, Sohail 1)
An impressive over from Tahir, with one wicket and just two runs from it. Sohail Khan is the new man in, as the middle order flattered to deceive. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the delays and wet conditions, Pakistan have failed to make the most of these remaining overs.
Updated
WICKET! Wahab lbw Tahir 0 (Pakistan 212-7)
A huge appeal from Tahir, and Richard Kettleborough gives it! A lengthy contretemps between Wahab and Misbah, and they decide to review. Replays confirm the decision was correct, striking in line and low – umpire’s call as to whether it was hitting the wicket (it looked like at least clipping the off stump) so off Wahab goes.
Updated
42 overs: Pakistan 212-6 (Misbah 55, Wahab 0)
Wahab comes to the crease as Misbah sees off the last two balls of the over for no run.
WICKET! Afridi c Duminy b Steyn 22 (Pakistan 211-6)
That didn’t take long. Afridi is a man possessed, and after Misbah rotates the strike, he lashes a six that goes 75 metres to the fence, and probably about the same distance into the air, landing just beyond the rope. Steyn is too clever to get smacked around like this, and his next ball, a shorter delivery, cramps Afridi and forces him to top-edge to Duminy at square leg. South Africa will be relieved to see the back of Shahid Afridi.
Updated
41 overs: Pakistan 203-5 (Misbah 52, Afridi 16)
So, Pakistan resume, and Boom Boom himself will get the green light to go all-out. Could be good, this - and there’s a four, slapping Abbott over the covers. That’s the only boundary, as Abbott sticks to a fuller length, not giving Afridi too much to aim at.
Here’s an update from Eden Park, care of Dom Wilson:
I’m in the top tier, but the boundaries are so short here I’m confident Afridi can get a 6 up here if they give him the chance. Really want a big score from Pakistan here, not because I want them to win or anything, just so that de Villiers has to really have a go later on.
Dom has even sent us a picture from his lofty vantage point, to really rub our noses in it.
Play will resume at 5am GMT
The covers are back off, and play is set to resume in fifteen minutes or so. Pakistan will bat to 47 overs, then after a ten-minute break, South Africa will start their chase. Providing it doesn’t rain again. Which it might.
Covers off... covers on
An update: the weather was clearing, and the covers were removed, at which point the rain returned, and the covers went back on. Pakistan may be reduced to 40 overs, which would put South Africa in, needing 240 from 40 overs under the ever-popular Duckworth-Lewis method. If Pakistan are reduced to 45 overs, they will bat another five. Providing it doesn’t rain again. Which it might. Clear? Good.
Updated
No news yet on when we’ll get back underway – it may be that the rain will now eat into the total overs per side. It’s possible that when play resumes, South Africa will come straight out to bat a reduced number of overs.
That scenario would also rob us of the spectacle of Shahid Afridi hoiking his bat at everything in sight for another ten overs, or until he handed in his wicket - whichever came first (hint: probably the latter).
Anyway, updates to follow. Until then, an omen for Pakistan fans:
Not content with batting, bowling and fielding, AB is now having a crack at groundskeeping...
40.1 overs: Pakistan 197-5 (Misbah 51, Afridi 11)
Misbah takes another single from a shortish Abbott delivery, but the rain, which never stopped entirely, fires down with renewed gusto. Play suspended again. Frustration abounds.
Updated
40th over: Pakistan 196-5 (Misbah 50, Afridi 11)
With Afridi eyeing the short rope at the far end of the ground, de Villiers opts to send Steyn in rather than a spinner. Misbah and Afridi make an unusual partnership, with the latter swinging at anything and everything. Not so Misbah, who brings up his 50 with a smart single - his 32nd of the day. Steyn stays wicketless, despite a final, full delivery which tempts Afridi.
39th over: Pakistan 193-5 (Misbah 48, Afridi 10)
Misbah pinches a run past silly mid-on, getting the strike back to Afridi, who picks up two with a pull to deep midwicket. More troubling for South Africa is the sight of de Villiers clutching his hand, having fallen awkwardly retrieving that ball. Misbah comes back on strike, and flicks a short delivery past third man for a canny boundary. Two more runs for a teak-tough 50 for the Pakistan captain.
38th over: Pakistan 184-5 (Misbah 42, Afridi 7)
Tahir is in for his eighth over; don’t forget, we’re still deep in the batting powerplay. Shahid Afridi is going to come out swinging, and he swats a full delivery over long off for six. A costly over from Tahir, who has otherwise respectable figures of 8-1-36-0.
Here we go again. No overs lost, so 13 more for Pakistan to try and build a total. It’s breezier than a Monica Geller voicemail in Auckland.
Updated
Play set to resume at 4am GMT / 5pm local time
Good news: it looks as though the rain is easing off, and play will resume earlier than expected. In about ten minutes, in fact.
While we wait, a quick nod to Misbah-ul-Haq, whose knock has taken him past 5000 ODI runs. One can only imagine how long that must have taken.
If you prefer cricket to rain, why not join Dan Lucas for Ireland v Zimbabwe, far across the Tasman sea in Hobart? Come back when it clears up though. Promise.
The ground staff were ready for the rain, even though it’s a little earlier than expected. So are the wags operating the PA, who whack on “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?”. Remember when Travis played it at Glastonbury? And it rained? And they built an entire career out of that one amusing coincidence? No?
Anyway, I’d have gone for this – although with the squall setting in, there may be an hour or two to roll a few precipitation-themed pop classics...
Updated
37th over: Pakistan 175-5 (Misbah 40, Afridi 0)
Shahid Afridi comes to the crease, faces one ball, and then heads back to the pavilion, for the rain has arrived. Play suspended. Boo!
Updated
WICKET! Akmal c de Villiers b Morkel 13 (Pakistan 175-5)
Morkel gets his man, the variety offered so far in this over getting into Akmal’s head, and as he tries to attack, he’s caught by a bouncer which flies to de Villiers at midwicket. The captain manages to hold the ball despite not being able to see it. There’s nothing the man can’t do.
Updated
37th over: Pakistan 174-4 (Misbah 39, Akmal 13)
Morkel is back in, desperately searching for a first wicket – and after Misbah nabs a textbook single, he has Akmal in trouble with a full delivery, than a back of a length ball that catches the outside edge. And then...
Drinks break here, as the lights come on at Eden Park. It’s certainly gloomy, but no sign of rain just yet. If Pakistan can get on the front foot, they could rack up 300 - that’s a tough target to chase; South Africa do a lot of things very well, but chasing hefty totals isn’t one of them. It’s nicely poised.
Updated
36th over: Pakistan 174-4 (Misbah 39, Akmal 13)
Powerplay time, with Steyn bowling from the southern end of the ground – but from a short delivery, Akmal cracks a lofted pull over midwicket. He had Steyn’s number there. Steyn responds as you might expect, with three short, fierce deliveries, from which Akmal and Misbah glean a run each. Who says this World Cup is all about big hitters? Misbah is creeping towards one of the least dynamic half-centuries I’ve ever seen.
35th over: Pakistan 166-4 (Misbah 37, Akmal 8)
Kyle Abbott, who you’ll recall only started due to Vernon Philander injuring himself in the warm-up, is having a fine afternoon, conceding just two runs as Pakistan stay on the defensive. The powerplay is coming, though, so the time for conservatism may be over. Misbah in particular has been stoic; 37 runs from 60 balls, in what has felt like about three hours.
34th over: Pakistan 165-4 (Misbah 36, Akmal 7)
Tahir comes in to bowl, with de Villiers surprisingly overlooking both the seamers and himself. Just one run from Akmal with a pull to midwicket. Tahir has bounced back impressively after a tough start – and on a ground that doesn’t suit spinners.
33rd over: Pakistan 164-4 (Misbah 36, Akmal 6)
More sloppy bowling from de Villiers, with 8 runs from the over. Akmal gets off the mark, driving a full length delivery through the on side. You sense that what’s left of the Pakistan innings will be crucial, with the seamers waiting for the likes of Akmal and Afridi, should he get in, to start swinging.
Updated
32nd over: Pakistan 156-4 (Misbah 34, Akmal 0)
Abbott makes the breakthrough with the final ball, putting Maqsood, who never looked comfortable, out of his misery. Umar Akmal is next to the crease.
Updated
WICKET! Maqsood c Roussow b Abbott 8 (South Africa 156-4)
Kyle Abbott gets his second wicket, and after almost forcing the error from Misbah, he finds the nervy Maqsood more obliging, slicing a back of a length delivery straight to Roussow, waiting at backward point.
Updated
32nd over: Pakistan 155-3 (Misbah 33, Maqsood 8)
Misbah-ul-Haq has been patience personified, and he leaves Abbott’s first three balls well alone, before finding a gap at third man to draw a couple of runs. A rare heart-in-mouth moment as Misbah wafts a square drive, but there’s nobody there...
31st over: Pakistan 153-3 (Misbah 31, Maqsood 8)
Curious stuff from de Villiers, as Misbah rattles another short ball back past the bowler for four, before the captain finds the right length to swing his next delivery away from Misbah. De Villiers is capable of taking wickets here, perhaps through sheer determination alone, but he’s proving expensive.
30th over: Pakistan 147-3 (Misbah 26, Maqsood 8)
Kyle Abbott returns, and continues to probe keenly, putting the pressure on Maqsood with a back of a length ball that beats the batsman for pace outside off. South Africa’s seamers have kept Pakistan from really getting up a head of steam. to the point that 300 now looks an optimistic total, rather than a conservative one.
29th over: Pakistan 145-3 (Misbah 25, Maqsood 7)
De Villiers gives himself another over, every inch the school team star who wants a bash at everything. Not that I’m bitter. It’s all going swimmingly, until Misbah picks his spot with the final ball, lashing one to cow corner. 1-29 for the South Africa captain, but he’s using up overs at least, with a strong middle order to come for Pakistan.
Updated
28th over: Pakistan 139-3 (Misbah 20, Maqsood 6)
Maqsood is denied a boundary by some more canny fielding, having punched a fuller Morkel delivery down the ground. The new batsman does get a four in similar fashion, which serves only to annoy Morkel, and the last two deliveries catch Maqsood, who twice comes close to edging through to de Kock.
27th over: Pakistan 132-3 (Misbah 16, Maqsood 0)
Maqsood sees out the over for no run. De Villiers had looked every inch the Sunday afternoon slogger in his first two overs, and perhaps lulled Younus into a false sense of security. Another wicket down, without turning to Steyn or Morkel, and things look a little brighter for the Proteas – although not in a literal sense, as fat grey clouds begin to gather in the Auckland sky.
WICKET! Younis c Roussow b de Villiers 37 (Pakistan 132-3)
De Villiers, to the disbelief of many, has another go – and after three balls of nothing special, he makes the breakthrough! Younis, trying to guide a delivery through mid-on, gets an edge which is snapped up by Roussow. Never, ever question AB de Villiers.
26th over: Pakistan 129-2 (Younis 36, Misbah 16)
De Villiers is clearly trying to share overs out, trying to keep Steyn and Morkel, who have kept things tight, with overs to spare. It’s a risky strategy, though, as Pakistan have targeted the spinners, and Duminy in particular. Morkel shows how it’s done here, leaking just three runs from another menacing over.
25th over: Pakistan 126-2 (Younis 35, Misbah 15)
Just as South Africa’s bowlers have slowed Pakistan down, here comes AB de Villiers for another over – but the captain’s self-confidence nearly pays off, with Misbah almost holing out to short backward square. The ball carries over Tahir’s head for four, though – and a gruesome short ball is despatched by Younis for another four. 54 runs from five overs bowled by the captain and Duminy.
24th over: Pakistan 115-2 (Younis 30, Misbah 9)
Morkel continues in his efforts to rattle the respective cages of Younis and Misbah, with the latter getting away with a looping shot through fine leg. Despite cries of ‘catch’, it drops beyond de Kock, racing out from behind the stumps. Four singles off the over.
Updated
23rd over: Pakistan 111-2 (Younis 28, Misbah 7)
Maiden from Tahir, with Misbah on the defensive to see out the over. 8 runs from 26 balls for the captain; there’s a fine line between being conservative, and draining the momentum from the innings, which Misbah is currently astride.
Updated
22nd over: Pakistan 111-2 (Younis 28, Misbah 7)
Just the one run from this over, as Morkel varies his length to keep Misbah guessing, before the Pakistan captain nurdles a single off the final ball. Nicholas Butt reckons 300 is the least Pakistan can expect: “A projected 250 to 300 is, I suggest a little light ... a score of well over 300 should be anticipated.”
21st over: Pakistan 110-2 (Younis 28, Misbah 7)
Always good fun to see Morne Morkel in the field – the gangly bowler resembling a dying spider as he tries to heave a throw in from deep square leg. Three runs from this over as Tahir finds a bit of consistency, save for a bye down Younis’s leg side.
20th over: Pakistan 107-2 (Younis 28, Misbah 5)
Dale Steyn now comes steaming in towards Younis, who takes a single down at third man to rotate the strike. A full delivery, then a short one, both left alone by Misbah, before a wild wide from a frustrated Steyn. Steyn, like his fellow seamers, has offered plenty of zip, but has lacked that killer accuracy. As a result, Pakistan’s batsmen have been able to pick and choose. Just three from that over, but a run rate of 5.39 isn’t too shabby.
So, Pakistan are ticking along slightly better than expected – if they can keep their heads, and wickets in hand, 250-300 looks reasonable. Would AB de Villiers still choose to bowl first? You can’t go back, AB.
19th over: Pakistan 104-2 (Younis 27, Misbah 4)
Duminy, who shipped 25 runs in his first two overs, has another bash - and smooth operators Younis and Misbah take two singles each, before Younis clips a mishit cover drive which runs to the boundary at third man. Pakistan will take ‘em however they come, as they creep over the hundred mark. The figures aren’t pretty so far for Duminy - 3-0-34-0. Time for drinks...
Updated
18th over: Pakistan 95-2 (Younis 20, Misbah 2)
Steyn is back in, after Pakistan, save for the run-out, made copious quantities of hay from South Africa’s spinners. Misbah starts with a squeaky single, with South Africa getting a throw at the non-striker’s end. Their field has been a hive of activity, particularly when the seamers have come in. Steyn beats Misbah’s outside edge with a length delivery, but the batsman, perhaps fortunately, doesn’t get any willow on it.
17th over: Pakistan 93-2 (Younis 19, Misbah 1)
Plenty of experience and common sense at the crease for Pakistan now, as Misbah joins Younis. The captain gets off the mark with a single off Tahir, eased away through mid-on.
WICKET! Sarfraz run out (Pakistan 92-2)
That low rumble you just heard was Sarfraz hitting the self-destruct button. A single looks set to take him to 49, but the batsmen push for two, and it’s a bad, bad call - David Miller whips a throw to De Kock, and Sarfraz is run out by some distance, one short of the half-century. What a careless wicket after such a good start.
Updated
16th over: Pakistan 90-1 (Younis 18, Sarfraz 48)
Sarfraz is warming up nicely, and he’s having a time of it against Duminy, pummelling two consecutive deliveries through the on side for six! Confidence starting to flow after a cagey start – and there’s another, following a wide with another that goes the distance. The first sixes of the innings, and Sarfraz finds three in one over! Sarfraz now just two runs off a half century, after ripping poor Duminy apart in that over.
Updated
15th over: Pakistan 69-1 (Younis 18, Sarfraz 30)
Tahir and company haven’t found the intensity of the opening bowlers, particularly as this Auckland pitch, which was providing movement from the first ball, seems to have died a touch. Sarfraz continues his impressive knock, dabbing away through third man for another four.
14th over: Pakistan 63-1 (Younis 17, Sarfraz 25)
JP Duminy is fit and raring to go, and he comes into the attack for an untypical over, which sees four singles as South Africa try to tighten up in the field. No matter – Pakistan will be very happy with this scoreline after fourteen overs.
13th over: Pakistan 59-1 (Younis 15, Sarfraz 23)
Almost a mix-up as Younis sets off for a quick single from the non-striker’s end, before Sarfraz waves him back. The throw goes to the wrong end, though. Gah! Pakistan have used the short boundaries to their advantage, and Sarfraz does so again to close the over, glancing a Tahir delivery through fine leg for another four runs.
12th over: Pakistan 54-1 (Younis 14, Sarfraz 19)
Weary of fielding all by himself, and keen on extending his domination of all things cricket, AB de Villiers is going to have a bowl. Three dot balls, before Younis smacks a short ball for four. Sarfraz concludes an inauspicious over from de Villiers, hooking another ugly bouncer to the rope. Nine runs off that over; what was the point exactly, AB?
Updated
11th over: Pakistan 45-1 (Younis 9, Sarfraz 15)
Tahir comes in to bowl his first over, with the sun now bearing down on Eden Park. Another rick in the field, as Faf du Plessis lets an on drive from Younis roll under him and to the rope. You don’t see that often, and it’s giving Pakistan some much-needed confidence. Sarfraz nicks a quick ball from Tahir beyond third man for his second boundary. Ten runs from the over.
Updated
10th over: Pakistan 35-1 (Younis 4, Sarfraz 10)
Wily veteran Younis gets off the mark care of a fielding slip, before de Villiers scrambles to stop a cover drive reaching the boundary. A no ball from Morkel means a free hit for Younis, but he swings and misses! That’s a shame. Still slow and steady progress for Pakistan – well, it worked for the tortoise. You can’t deny that.
Updated
9th over: Pakistan 30-1 (Younis 0, Sarfraz 10)
Younis Khan strolls out to the crease; he’s another newcomer to the line up today, replacing Haris Sohail. Big breakthrough for South Africa - the difference in quality between the two sides in the field could be crucial today.
WICKET! Shehzad b Abbott c Steyn 18 (Pakistan 30-1)
Dale Steyn makes a brilliant breakthrough for South Africa, but it’s not what you’re thinking. Moments after Shehzad drills an over-pitched Abbott delivery back down the ground for four, the Pakistani opener mis-times a chip over midwicket. Steyn races after it, dives full length, and hauls it in! Woof. Magnificent catch from Steyn, and he had to land on his face to do it.
Updated
8th over: Pakistan 26-0 (Shehzad 14, Sarfraz 10)
Credit where it’s due: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has shaken up the top order, bringing Sarfraz in for the hopelessly out of touch Jamshed, and it’s paid off so far. It may help improve their fielding, too, which at times has bordered on comical.
Morkel comes back in and after a single from Shehzad, keeps Sarfraz guessing with his line and length. Five dot balls follow; you can file this opening spell under ‘tentative’.
Updated
7th over: Pakistan 25-0 (Shehzad 13, Sarfraz 10)
Sarfraz tucks away a back of a length ball from Abbott for a single, before Shehzad, after seeing out a few full deliveries from Abbott, clubs a short, straight ball over midwicket for four. Another single, plus a wide from Abbott, as the scoreboard starts to tick over for Pakistan at last.
6th over: Pakistan 18-0 (Shehzad 8, Sarfraz 9)
Morkel in for Abbott, varying his length and forcing Sarfraz to mistime his shots. A scrappy single, followed by a fierce bouncer that fair rockets down Shehzad’s off-side, and a short one that Shehzad ducks underneath. Only three an over for Pakistan’s openers, as they try and settle in.
5th over: Pakistan 17-0 (Shehzad 8, Sarfraz 8)
This is already Pakistan’s best opening partnership of the tournament. Good grief. It’s hardly been cool and composed from Shehzad and Sarfraz thus far – summed up in this over by Shehzad inadvertently flicking Steyn’s bouncing delivery for four, off the bottom of his bat. That could just have easily cleared his bails off. And yet, five overs down, and they’re still there. I guess that’s something.
4th over: Pakistan 12-0 (Shehzad 4, Sarfraz 7)
Another outside edge, this time from Sarfraz, floats out to third man for a single. Shehzad, no runs from 8 balls, now faces an examination from Abbott. A tidy off-drive brings up his first runs, and four of them. It’s an odd-shaped ground, Eden Park, and there’s scope for boundaries without swinging at everything – the boundary is less than 50m from the crease in places.
3rd over: Pakistan 7-0 (Shehzad 0, Sarfraz 6)
Steyn is homing in on Shehzad’s off stump, playing on a tendency for the batsman to push with the outside edge through to the slips. Steyn finds the edge but it can’t quite reach third slip. Maiden over from Steyn, who looks up for this.
Updated
2nd over: Pakistan 7-0 (Shehzad 0, Sarfraz 6)
Kyle Abbott is in now, despite apparently being dropped today – only for Vernon Philander to twang his hamstring in the warm up. A first boundary for Sarfraz, knocking a straightish delivery away beyond square leg, before tucking a fuller ball past mid-on for two. In between those two strokes, Roussow missed a run-out opportunity by a hair’s breadth. Big LBW appeal to finish the over, waved away by Richard Kettleborough, and the chance to review is passed up. Sarfraz was a long way out of his crease, so very difficult to give that out.
Updated
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shehzad 0, Sarfraz 1)
Here we go then, with Dale Steyn getting movement immediately, twice coming close to Sarfraz’s outside edge. South Africa bring in an extra slip straight away, while Sarfraz works a single down the leg side. Shehzad fancies a run himself, but Sarfraz sends him back. David Miller sweeps up a short one from Shehzad, but misses the chance to catch Sarfraz out of his stumps. Imposing start from South Africa – just one from the over.
It’s anthem time. Not house anthems, just national ones. We’ll be underway in a few minutes. What’s a par score for Pakistan out here? South Africa may struggle to chase a total of 250+, and that would be respectable, given the conditions. The first few overs could be crucial if they’re to get anywhere near that.
Updated
Not a good start for Misbah – not only did he lose the toss, they got his name wrong on the team sheet...
Team news
Sarfraz Ahmed comes into the Pakistan team, and will take the wicketkeeper’s gloves from Umar Akmal, while Younis replaces Haris Sohail. Mohammed Irfan, the 7 foot tall quick bowler, is in the team despite fitness concerns.
For South Africa, JP Duminy is fit to return, replacing Behardien, but Philander is left out, with Kyle Abbott keeping his place. Rossouw, who impressed against Ireland, stays in to strength the middle order.
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), A Shehzad, S Ahmed (w), Younis Khan, S Maqsood, U Akmal, S Afridi, Wahab Riaz, S Khan, Rahat Ali, M Irfan.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (c), H Amla, Q de Kock (wk), F du Plessis, R Rossouw, D Miller, JP Duminy, D Steyn, K Abbott, M Morkel, I Tahir.
Updated
Coin toss time
Misbah calls tails, but it’s heads. AB de Villiers decides to have a bowl first, proving me immediately wrong - the South Africa captain has had a look at the wicket, and the weather, which is fine but breezy as of now, and fancies a crack at Pakistan’s openers.
Who’s in the house? If you’re with me, let’s have your cricketing club classics. It may be Saturday lunchtime in New Zealand, but where I am, it’s always currently Friday night. I’ll start with an easy one...
Updated
Weather watch
As discussed, the weather could play a part today, although fears of a washout have been allayed. Right now, it looks like showers in four hours or so. Both sides, and Pakistan in particular, will surely be keen to bat first – chasing an imposing total in a disrupted second innings doesn’t sound like much fun.
Updated
Hello. Welcome to Match 29 of 49 in a tournament that’s starting to follow a familiar pattern. Surprises are getting scarce, as the big boys get into position for the big boy stuff. Quarter final match-ups are being pencilled in, and most conversation about the associate nations revolves around how they’ll ever get back to the tournament. When you need someone to shatter that creeping sense of inevitability, look no further than Pakistan and South Africa.
Mercurial performances have come to define the two teams; Pakistan, ever handed a talented but flawed bunch, hark back to the elusive winning formula of 1992, while South Africa, so often favourites, have so routinely disappointed. These two could conceivably have contested three World Cup finals already - in ‘92, when rain denied South Africa in the semis, and in 1999 and 2011, when the two sides topped their respective groups, only to come unstuck in the latter stages.
So far in this edition, Pakistan have lost to India and West Indies, scraped past Zimbabwe and have only impressed against poor old UAE. South Africa’s heavy hitters have dished out a few lessons already, but were meek in surrendering to that same unfancied Indian side. The Proteas are strong favourites to win here in Auckland, and seal a quarter-final spot – but when has that ever meant much?
This isn’t a vintage Pakistan side, but they have depth and variety in their bowling attack, and could catch out South Africa’s big hitters if they’re overconfident, or undercooked. Throw in a pitch with short, straight boundaries, middle orders that can drag a game back to life, a sky that’s set to burst at some stage, and you have a match that might offer a few more thrills than expected.
Play begins at 1am GMT – that’s 2pm in Auckland, 3am in Cape Town, and 6am in Karachi. Team news and such to follow shortly.
