Daily Times

BIRMINGHAM: Rain helped Pakistan stun South Africa by 19 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in their second encounter of the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston Ground here Wednesday night. The win put Pakistan’s miserable hammering by archrivals India behind them with this shock victory that kept their semi-final hopes alive. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said playing in front of a ‘home’ crowd had helped inspire his side to win over Proteas. Pakistan fans dominated a crowd of more than 16,000, giving it the air of a home game for Sarfraz’s men in Birmingham, a city with one of the largest Asian populations in Britain. “That is a feeling we miss, not playing in Pakistan,” Sarfraz told reporters after the match. “Maybe that was a difference, the crowd was supporting us and that’s why the players were boosted.” Pakistan have had to play most of their matches overseas since a 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.

Just three days after suffering a humiliating 124-run defeat by title-holders India, with former skipper Shahid Afridi among those slamming a ‘clueless’ display, Pakistan’s return saw them make a mockery of the rankings which had them bottom and South Africa top in this eight-team one-day international tournament. Pakistan kept the Proteas to a modest 219 for eight in their 50 overs, having conceded exactly 100 more against title-holders India. “I think the difference was our bowling and fielding,” said wicketkeeper-captain Sarfraz. The result throws Group B wide open and gives Pakistan a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals when they face Sri Lanka in their final match on Monday. South Africa now face a tough fight with India at the Oval on Sunday if they are to advance.

Having conceded 319 for three against title-holders India, Pakistan restricted South Africa to 219 for eight after losing the toss. It was the spin duo of Imad Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez who did the early damage. Left-armer Imad struck second ball when Hasim Amla (16) was lbw. Off-spinner Hafeez then had Quinton de Kock (33) lbw on the sweep. After the spinners did the initial damage, paceman Hasan Ali took three for 24 in eight overs. David Miller finished not out on 75 off 104 balls after a dogged innings that included a 48-run partnership with Kagiso Rabada for the eighth wicket. South Africa suffered two ‘golden ducks’ with captain AB de Villiers dismissed with his first delivery for the first time in his ODI career. Wayne Parnell also fell first ball when he was clean bowled.

And when fast bowler Morne Morkel took two wickets in three balls, Pakistan were faltering at 41 for two under the floodlights in this day/night fixture. But Babar Azam (31 not out) and Shoaib Malik (16 not out) took Pakistan to 119 for three off 27 overs when heavy rain stopped play at 7:41pm. The match was abandoned two hours later, as the rain persisted, to hand Pakistan their first points of the tournament and leave them with a chance to go through to the semi-finals.