00:00Welcome to Straight Bad with Gulf News, yet another thriller in the World Cup.
00:11It's not exactly a thriller, actually the ingredients made it more thrilling.
00:15A 33-run win is not a thriller, but the thing is finally there was a scramble there.
00:20Thanks to the rain and the duck with Luis Maduro.
00:23In any case, Pakistan keep their semifinal hopes alive with a 33-run win.
00:32Ashfaq, what did you make of that match?
00:34Shyam, I said it was a must-win match.
00:37Otherwise, the Pakistan team would have been on flight tomorrow.
00:40So, they did well.
00:42I think the opening pairs failed again, miserably.
00:47But the change was young.
00:49The tone was set by young Harris.
00:52This guy who's new, 21-year-old.
00:54This was just second ODI, the way he hit the ball.
00:57So, quick fire, three sixes and two fours.
01:00It gave, I think, a lot of positivity in the game.
01:04Though he got out in just 11 balls, but he set the pace.
01:07And then Iftikhar.
01:09Iftikhar really did well today.
01:14In 32, 35 balls, he made 51.
01:17Then Nawaz chipped in.
01:18Then Shadab made a big difference.
01:2032 balls, 52.
01:22So, altogether, I was expecting 170 runs should be okay.
01:26Because Miller was not there.
01:28But they managed 185.
01:30So, I think they pulled off a great win.
01:33Bad luck for South Africa.
01:3492 World Cup memories came back.
01:37And they lost because of the rain.
01:41Things could have been different if Miller was there.
01:43But today was not their day.
01:45I think today was Pakistan's day.
01:46Everything went in their favor.
01:48Even in the field, South Africa was so sloppy today.
01:51And Pakistan got all the catches and run outs, everything.
01:54They were like all over.
01:56But it was a good day.
01:57And I think good luck day for them.
02:00I hope they can progress more.
02:07Yeah.
02:08And all in all, a very consummate victory by Pakistan.
02:11With the batsmen running into form.
02:14As well as the bowlers backing them up.
02:16Satheesh, where did things go wrong for South Africa?
02:19I think exactly.
02:22Actually, it was a very chancy wicket for South Africa when Mohammed Nawaz got out.
02:27He should have actually referred.
02:29But it was actually a blessing in disguise for Pakistan.
02:33Because Shadab came and started playing his shots.
02:35And he was connecting well.
02:37At that point of time, I think South Africa, just before that and during that phase,
02:42I think South Africa lost their momentum.
02:44Maybe they started mis-building.
02:47And the bowlers were bowling at the wrong areas.
02:49And there was a slight drizzle at that point of time.
02:52Where the ball was also, you know, like they were not able to hold the ball well.
02:56So some full tosses.
02:57And the ball was hitting nicely.
02:59So everything happened at that point of time.
03:01I think that was almost the 15th over when Nawaz got out.
03:04More or less, Pakistan was in control.
03:06I think it was 95-5 in 13 overs.
03:11Which is a pretty good score.
03:13But if you look at another 4 overs, the match turned around.
03:22Ashfaq, coming back to you again.
03:24The much maligned middle order came to Pakistan's rescue, isn't it?
03:29Not just that.
03:30There was a refreshingly positive approach from the batsmen.
03:33True, Shab.
03:35This was a do-or-die match.
03:37If they don't do it today, they haven't done it today.
03:41Maybe many of them will lose their heads in the next big tournaments.
03:47Because there were a lot of practices back home on this middle order.
03:50But today they performed.
03:51And I think they should be thankful to Horace.
03:54Young Horace who gave them hope.
03:56And everybody chipped in.
03:58And they did their best.
04:00In the middle order today, they shined.
04:02And now I think we are not worried even if Babur Azam or Muhammad Rezwan don't score.
04:09The middle order proved today that they can still manage a big total
04:12if they play positive cricket.
04:15And if they don't depend on Babur Azam too much.
04:18Another takeaway I would say, Shab, from the match
04:22is Shaheen Afridi got his rhythm back.
04:25He struck in the first two hours.
04:28Got two very crucial wickets.
04:30And he was superbly backed by Naseem Shah
04:35who was superb death over.
04:38And Naseem Junior also.
04:40So they all did a great job.
04:43And Shadda was like, of course, this was his day.
04:46Back-to-back two wickets of South African captain
04:50and the other guy, Barker.
04:52That changed the game for him.
04:54It was Shaddaab's day, I think.
04:56At least, man of the match.
04:58Everything went in their favor.
04:59Today was the day.
05:01And this is a strange team.
05:03They lost to Zimbabwe.
05:05And they won the team of the tournament.
05:08With this big.
05:11And what I would say, I have been especially struck by Iftikhar Ahmed's innings.
05:17He not just held the innings together.
05:20And he went after the big shots as well.
05:22And this shows this man is of immense talent.
05:25We haven't seen much of him.
05:27But this is his second 50 in the match, is it?
05:29Yeah, this is the second 50 of the tournament.
05:33Iftikhar has been scoring in local matches big time.
05:36That's why he has been scoring in PCL.
05:39He is a dangerous player.
05:41He can take over the match.
05:43He has the capabilities.
05:45And he can ball as well.
05:48And he has been bowling in PSL as well.
05:51So, Iftikhar's innings and Shadab and Nawaz.
05:56I think they are getting stronger.
05:59Midlaners are getting stronger as they are playing.
06:02Because Babur and Rizwan didn't allow them in early days.
06:06Because two of them used to score and there was nothing left.
06:09Now they are getting a chance to play.
06:11Now they are playing, so they got the confidence with the games.
06:15So, now they can perform.
06:17So, that's what I see.
06:19Actually, the tone was said by young Mohammad Harris.
06:24We haven't seen much of him.
06:26But the way he took on the South African baseballers was fantastic.
06:30I think that set the tone for the match.
06:32Tell us more about this Harris.
06:34Harris is just 21 years old.
06:37And he was included in the squad of 16.
06:45Blessing and disguise for him that Fakhar Zaman got injured.
06:49And the World Cup committee approved his inclusion in the squad.
06:54And I think this young man has nothing to lose today.
06:57He has nothing to lose.
06:58So, he just went after the batting.
07:00And this is what he has been doing in the local matches.
07:03Actually, he is an opener westman.
07:05I was expecting that maybe Mohammad Rizwan will come one down.
07:09And he will come with Babur as an opener pair.
07:14But they didn't break that partnership.
07:16And despite he was one down, the way he played, he comes as a strike opener.
07:23He actually showed the way for the rest of the batsmen.
07:28Satish, tell us.
07:30See, South Africa has an equally fearsome face-to-face attack.
07:34But they were taken to the cleaners, really.
07:38All their analysis went for a toss in the last 5-6 overs.
07:47When Shadab started off first with a few sixes, fours.
07:52Then, I think, Iftikhar also joined towards the closing stage.
07:57And it was kind of a free-for-all at that point of time.
08:01Chand, if you look at, they conceded about 95, almost close to 90 runs in the last 7 overs.
08:12That completely demolished all their analysis.
08:16It started with Ingidi, who was first hit.
08:22Then Rabada initially had a bad over because Paris took him on straightaway in the first over.
08:28So, his analysis was bad.
08:30Nokia, I think, that one over where the ball slipped, he gave away a full-toss six, which was a no-ball.
08:37Then he came back and he bowled another full-toss, which went for a six.
08:40So, everything went topsy-turvy.
08:43The fielding was also dropping catches.
08:46So, the bowlers didn't have the confidence.
08:48So, in a bit of madness, things went completely topsy-turvy in a 6 or 7-over spell.
08:56That's where South Africa lost.
08:58Again, unfortunately, once again, the chokers' tag will be coming on top of their heads.
09:04Because when they were going strong at that point of time, they should have choked Pakistan.
09:10Instead, they let them go free.
09:12And then the momentum shifted completely towards Pakistan.
09:15When they batted also, I think, AB should have… Sorry, Quinton de Kock should have waited for a little while.
09:23He saw how fast you can change the match around.
09:26And he is one guy who could take the match at a different level.
09:30So, he also…
09:31Satish, just to stop you there.
09:33This also showed the fragility of the South African team, isn't it?
09:37They have won all the matches until now.
09:39This is their first loss.
09:40And some people have even placed them as one of the favourites after the four wins.
09:45But today's scrambling doesn't really sit well with them, right?
09:52Yes, Shyam.
09:53But I suspected this.
09:54Because if you look at, again, only two or three batsmen were performing.
09:59And thankfully, Bouma came good today.
10:03But again, without Miller…
10:05It was down to Quinton de Kock and Miller.
10:09These were the guys who were holding up the South African batting, South African innings.
10:14In between…
10:15Not really.
10:16In between, we had O'Reilly-Rousseau scoring in one match.
10:19And Hayden Markram scoring against India.
10:22So, each match, a different guy was standing up.
10:25Yeah. See, Shyam.
10:27I was hitting Bangladesh spinners.
10:29And that day, it was his day.
10:30I saw that match.
10:31Anything he was…
10:32Even a mis-time shot was going to a six.
10:34So, that was one inning which helped O'Reilly-Rousseau at that point of time.
10:38But apart from that, against India, he didn't do well.
10:41Even against India, Markram had a couple of likes.
10:44Like two, three run-out chances.
10:46Catches dropped.
10:47So, they were not actually giving me the confidence that they are a full team which is ready to steamroller the opposition.
10:54The bowling was good.
10:55That's where their strong point was always in this tournament.
11:01But today, when that failed, they didn't know how to go about it.
11:04Okay.
11:05Sir, coming back quickly to Ashfaq.
11:08Before we wind up, this queue is actually a Pakistan breathing space.
11:12And in fact, they will wait for India's last match against Zimbabwe to know their semi-final standings.
11:18So, how hopeful are you of Pakistan's next…
11:23They have to play one more game, right?
11:25Yeah.
11:26If they win Bangladesh, they have pretty good chances, I think, to progress.
11:35But let's see.
11:37We are keeping our hopes alive.
11:39And if they come through, I think they are a new team now.
11:44And they will go through semi-finals as well.
11:47If they qualify, I can see them in the finals.
11:50Because they have come back to a final.
11:53Okay.
11:54In fact, they are batting, bowling.
11:55Everything is coming together at this time.
11:57Everything is coming together.
11:58Yes, absolutely.
11:59Sir, coming to the schedule.
12:00What is the advantage or the disadvantage Pakistan has?
12:04Pakistan is playing after South Africa.
12:07The first match is between Netherlands and South Africa on Sunday.
12:10Second match, Bangladesh and Pakistan are playing.
12:13That is between the third and fourth place.
12:15So, by the time they know what South Africa has done, based on that, the match will go on.
12:21But the sad part is, the last match is between India and Zimbabwe.
12:25Until such time, they will not know what the fate is.
12:28Let's see.
12:31Just before we wrap up, tomorrow's games are Ireland vs. New Zealand and Australia vs. Afghanistan.
12:37So, I think most of the heavyweight matches are scheduled for Sunday.
12:42So, until then, this is Shyam from Gulf News winding up.
12:49Thanks for logging in.
12:50And please head over to our social media channels and gulfnews.com for the latest updates and breaking news.
12:57Thank you very much.
13:00GULF NEWS
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