After securing a comfortable victory against South Africa, Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed credited the complete team performance. He also praised the Player of the Match winner Haris Sohail. Comparing his batting performance with the English star wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler, Sarfaraz feels that Haris Sohail’s batting was the difference between Pakistan and South Africa.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed decided to bat first after winning the toss. The openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman provided a good start with the 81-run partnership. While both the openers scored 44 runs, the no.3 batsman Babar Azam scored 69 runs off 80 balls.
However, the middle-order batsman Haris Sohail played the most important innings in that match. As a no.5-positioned batsman, Sohail scored 89 runs off 59 balls (nine fours and three sixes). His firing batting opened the opportunity for Pakistan to set a big target as they managed to score 308/7 (50 overs).
It was the second game for Haris Sohail in this tournament. After featuring in Pakistan’s opening match of this tournament (against Windies), Sohail missed out four consecutive matches before his latest opportunity.
Sarfaraz Ahmed highly praised Haris Sohail. He compares Sohail’s batting with Jos Buttler’s batting, the in-form English middle-order batsman.
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Pakistan captain said, “A complete team performance. I think a couple of team combinations didn’t allow us to play him before. But he did well after getting his chance. Sometimes, change is good. Today, the way Haris batted, he looked hungry. He was the difference. Batted like Jos Buttler.”
During their meeting in this Cricket World Cup, Jos Buttler slammed a 75-ball century after coming to bat at no.6.
Sarfaraz Ahmed is happy on their complete bowling effort
Pakistan bowlers were much disciplined with the ball in hand. Among the Pakistan bowlers, the left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz (3/46) and the leggie Shadab Khan (3/50) picked up three wickets each, while the other left-arm pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/54) and Mohammad Amir (2/49) took one and two wickets respectively.
Talking about their bowling effort, Sarfaraz added, “Complete bowling effort. Credit to Amir for picking up early wickets. Shadab picked up wickets in the middle overs and Wahab got us wickets at the death. Thank you for all the support.”
Pakistan has to work hard on our fielding
However, once again the Pakistan fielding has disappointed during that match. Pakistan fielders missed some good chances, and it can give them a massive headache.
The Pakistan captain said about their fielding, “We have to work hard on our fielding. We dropped so many catches. All three matches are important.”
After playing six matches in the ongoing 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistan has earned five points (two wins, three defeats and one no result). In their remaining three matches in the round-robin stage, Pakistan will meet with New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. They can still qualify for the semi-finals by winning all these matches.
Pakistan will play their next match of this tournament on 26th June against New Zealand at Birmingham.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s latest defeat has finished their last hope to qualify for the semi-finals of this Cricket World Cup. After playing seven matches in this tournament, South Africa has earned only three points.