Gul, Akmal help Pakistan beat South Africa by two wickets

Gul and Akmal help Pakistan beat South Africa by two wicketsColombo: Pakistan held on to their nerves to clinch a two wicket victory over South Africa a low-scoring Super Eights affair of T20 World Cup here today at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan in their pursuit of a rather small target received initial jolts but a 49 runs partnership for the eighth wicket between Umar Akmal and Umar Gul saw them beat the Proteas by a narrow margin.

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Scorecard: 136 for 8 (Umar Akmal 43*, Gul 32) beat South Africa 133 for 6 (Duminy 48, Hafeez 2-23) by two wickets

Match facts:

Toss: South Africa, elected to bat

South Africa:

First powerplay: 28 runs, 2 wickets (0-6 overs)

4’s: 9, 6’s: 4

Pakistan:

Powerplay
: 37 runs, 3 wickets

4’s: 13, 6’s: 5

Man of the match: Umar Gul

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Coming onto bat to chase 134, Pakistan made a good start and it looked it would not pose much of a problem for them. But then after Robin Peterson dismissed last match’s hero Imran Nazir in the third over of the match it triggered a collapse and in to time they lost four quick wickets.

It was then Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal who joined forces and stabilised the Pakistan’s innings but then Malik could not last for long was out for 12. Even though the partnership could not contribute much to the scoreboard, what it did was stop the flow of wickets. His wicket saw one more collapse before Gul came to the crease.

With the scoreboard reading 76-7, it looked like South Africa would wrap up the affairs in no time but then the duo of Akmal and Gul had other plans. They played in complete sync with each other and if Akmal was cautious to make sure that Pakistan do not suffer any further casualty, then Gul took that attack to the bowlers and carted them all over the park.

Gul scored 32 of 17 deliveries including two boundaries and three huge hits over the boundary while Akmal belted 43 of 41 deliveries including four boundaries and a six.

Earlier batting first, South Africa batting came a cropper and none one except Jean Paul Duminy and skipper AB de Villiers come with any substantial contribution.

Duminy scored 48 off 38 deliveries that included couple of fours and as many sixes, whereas de Villiers hit 25 that included two boundaries and a six.


By Indian Sports News Network