NO DALE Steyn? No Morne Morkel? No problem. South Africa rose above injuries to their premier fast bowlers to stay alive and kicking in the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston last night.
They dwindled to a total of 234/9, but that was 67 more runs than Pakistan could muster in reply.
Hashim Amla’s 81 and Ryan McLaren’s 4/19 were the biggest pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle that has heightened South Africa’s hopes of reaching the semifinals.
Though missing in action, Steyn was a frequent visitor to the field. He wore a reserve’s bib to bring on advice, encouragement and sometimes just drinks.
SA got the first half of their innings right, building with care the head of steam they would look to unleash later.
Gone was the recklessness that undermined their efforts against India and in the warm-up game against Pakistan.
Runs came slowly but certainly, largely because Amla refused to be ruffled – even after he was dropped on seven.
Amla shared 53 with a more settled Colin Ingram and 69 with the dependable Faf du Plessis.
Of those 122 runs only 40 came in boundaries, all but one of them hit by Amla himself.
But Amla’s moment of silliness in the 32nd over – a reverse sweep gloved into the hands of short third man – marked the spot where South Africa mislaid the plot.
The last 10 overs claimed six wickets for the addition of 51 runs. Worse, four were runouts. South Africa were up against quality opponents but they needed no help dissipating that carefully constructed head of steam.
Good thing, then, that the bowlers had brought their A game.
Pakistan could squeeze no more than 18 runs from the first 10 overs of their innings; exactly half as many as SA scored.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe bowled immaculately to begrudge six runs in his opening spell of five overs, while Chris Morris bounded in on imported air to take two wickets in his first four overs as a one- day international bowler.
Morris’ debut ball was a legside wide, but five deliveries later he bowled Imran Farhat through the gate with a peach that straightened to nail the top of the left-hander’s off-stump.
South Africa have made much of the aggression they want their bowlers to show. The bouncer that Morris aimed at the throat of Mohammad Hafeez – who duly top-edged his hook and was caught at square leg – is the best example so far.
When JP Duminy, introduced in the 18th over ahead of Robin Peterson, removed Shoaib Malik with his third ball, a drifting, turning delivery that was defended but still rolled back to hit the stumps, Pakistan were 48/3.
That became 86/4 when Tsotsobe returned to dislodge the gritty Nasir Jamshed with a well-held return catch.
Only Misbah ul-Haq could save Pakistan from there. His 75 balls of defiance was worth 55 runs, but it is unlikely to spare his team a first-round exit.
McLaren took his four wickets for five runs in the space of 11 balls to ensure an efficient march to victory.
The Proteas still need to beat West Indies in their last group game in Cardiff on Friday to give themselves the best chance of reaching the semifinals.
West Indies take on India today in another Group B second round of matches.
India beat South Africa by 26 runs in the Champions Trophy opening match on Thursday.
On Friday Pakistan went down to West Indies by two wickets.
Proteas keep dream alive
They dwindled to a total of 234/9, but that was 67 more runs than Pakistan could muster in reply.
Hashim Amla’s 81 and Ryan McLaren’s 4/19 were the biggest pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle that has heightened South Africa’s hopes of reaching the semifinals.
Though missing in action, Steyn was a frequent visitor to the field. He wore a reserve’s bib to bring on advice, encouragement and sometimes just drinks.
SA got the first half of their innings right, building with care the head of steam they would look to unleash later.
Gone was the recklessness that undermined their efforts against India and in the warm-up game against Pakistan.
Runs came slowly but certainly, largely because Amla refused to be ruffled – even after he was dropped on seven.
Amla shared 53 with a more settled Colin Ingram and 69 with the dependable Faf du Plessis.
Of those 122 runs only 40 came in boundaries, all but one of them hit by Amla himself.
But Amla’s moment of silliness in the 32nd over – a reverse sweep gloved into the hands of short third man – marked the spot where South Africa mislaid the plot.
The last 10 overs claimed six wickets for the addition of 51 runs. Worse, four were runouts. South Africa were up against quality opponents but they needed no help dissipating that carefully constructed head of steam.
Good thing, then, that the bowlers had brought their A game.
Pakistan could squeeze no more than 18 runs from the first 10 overs of their innings; exactly half as many as SA scored.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe bowled immaculately to begrudge six runs in his opening spell of five overs, while Chris Morris bounded in on imported air to take two wickets in his first four overs as a one- day international bowler.
Morris’ debut ball was a legside wide, but five deliveries later he bowled Imran Farhat through the gate with a peach that straightened to nail the top of the left-hander’s off-stump.
South Africa have made much of the aggression they want their bowlers to show. The bouncer that Morris aimed at the throat of Mohammad Hafeez – who duly top-edged his hook and was caught at square leg – is the best example so far.
When JP Duminy, introduced in the 18th over ahead of Robin Peterson, removed Shoaib Malik with his third ball, a drifting, turning delivery that was defended but still rolled back to hit the stumps, Pakistan were 48/3.
That became 86/4 when Tsotsobe returned to dislodge the gritty Nasir Jamshed with a well-held return catch.
Only Misbah ul-Haq could save Pakistan from there. His 75 balls of defiance was worth 55 runs, but it is unlikely to spare his team a first-round exit.
McLaren took his four wickets for five runs in the space of 11 balls to ensure an efficient march to victory.
The Proteas still need to beat West Indies in their last group game in Cardiff on Friday to give themselves the best chance of reaching the semifinals.
West Indies take on India today in another Group B second round of matches.
India beat South Africa by 26 runs in the Champions Trophy opening match on Thursday.
On Friday Pakistan went down to West Indies by two wickets.
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