SOUTH AFRICA THRASH PAKISTAN IN A ONE-SIDED AFFAIR

Coming off a solid warm-up win against New Zealand, Pakistan came out with little to no energy against the team whom they battled for months and know very well in South Africa. A severe wake up call before the first match that matters against India.

Pakistan crashed to an eight-wicket defeat in its second and final ICC World Twenty20 2014 warm-up match, after its batsmen capitulated against South Africa on Wednesday (March 19).

With only three players getting into double digits, Pakistan was bowled out for 71 in 17.3 overs, with the three left-arm pacemen – Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Beuran Hendricks – all claiming two wickets apiece. South Africa completed victory in 14 overs, losing two wickets while reaching 72 at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

On Monday, Pakistan had secured a six-wicket win over New Zealand in its first warm-up game, thanks to an 83-run second wicket stand between Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez. Against South Africa, however, it was the lack of a similar partnership that led to its downfall.

Having opted to bat, Pakistan got off to a slow start and lost its first wicket within three overs when Ahmed Shehzad was trapped in front by JP Duminy for a 13-ball 12. Sharjeel Khan (2) and Shoaib Malik (1) followed suit, leaving it tottering at 28 for 3.

Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood then associated for 22 runs for the fourth wicket, which turned out to be Pakistan’s biggest partnership of the innings. The resistance lasted only a brief while, during which runs came largely through singles and doubles, with the exception of a six from Maqsood off Aaron Phangiso. It was one of just three boundaries in the innings, the other two fours coming from Shehzad and Umar.

The stand was broken when Umar (17) was dismissed by Parnell, before Kamran was run out for a golden duck two balls later. When Maqsood fell in a similar manner for a run-a-ball 15, Pakistan was in deep trouble at 58 for 6.

The big-hitting Shahid Afridi (6) couldn’t bail Pakistan out and Hafeez (7) failed to find the form he displayed against New Zealand. The tail had been left with too much to do, and crumbled.

In South Africa’s chase, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock ate into more than half the required runs with a 39-run stand for the opening wicket, giving their side the perfect start.

The two were dismissed in quick succession, but with the target being as low as it was, that didn’t seriously hamper South Africa. The first to go was Amla, trapped in front by Umar Gul for a 20-ball 24. De Kock (15) followed suit when he had his stumps disturbed by Afridi.

The wickets proved to be a mere blip, as David Miller (12) and AB de Villiers (20) put on an unbroken 33 runs to guide South Africa to an easy victory.