Tag: South Africa

PUNE: In-form wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock on Wednesday, etched his name into the record books with a sensational century against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023.

De Kock, who scored his fourth century in the ongoing mega event, has now scored the most runs (545) by a wicketkeeper batter in a single edition of the World Cup.

He brought up his 21st ODI century in 103 balls and went on to score 114 in 116 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries and three sixes.

The left-handed batter surpassed legendary Sri Lankan batter Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 543 runs, which he achieved in the 2015 World Cup.

Furthermore, Quinton de Kock, with four centuries in the ICC World Cup 2023 also joined Sangakkara in the list of most hundreds in a World Cup and is now only behind India’s Rohit Sharma, who scored five in the previous edition.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Earlier in the tournament, de Kock scored 100 against Sri Lanka, 109 against Australia and played a marathon 174-run knock against Bangladesh.

Coming back to the match, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen’s centuries powered South Africa to post a massive total of 357/4 against New Zealand.

The Proteas had a contrasting start to their innings as their captain Temba Bavuma (24) perished cheaply with just 38 runs on the board.

Following an early blow, van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock joined forces to dominate New Zealand bowlers and added 200 runs for the second wicket before experienced pacer Tim Southee finally got rid of the latter.

Meanwhile, van der Dussen stood his ground firm and batted till the 48th before he, too, fell victim to Southee.

The right-handed batter top-scored for South Africa with 133 in 118 balls, smashing nine boundaries and five sixes.

Besides them, hard-hitting batter David Miller scored a quickfire half-century to further boost South Africa’s total.

READ: ICC World Cup 2023 not over for Pakistan, says Babar Azam

CHENNAI: South African batters managed to hold onto their nerves as they edged spirited Pakistan by one wicket in the 26th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase 271, South Africa’s number nine Keshav Maharaj scored the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz on the second delivery of the 48th over.

South African openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma gave their side a brisk start by scoring 30 runs in the first two overs.

Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi spoiled South Africa’s flying start as he got rid of in-form de Kock in the fourth over. The left-handed opener scored a 14-ball 24, hitting five boundaries.

Aiden Markram then joined Bavuma in the middle and the pair shared a 33-run stand before the Proteas captain perished in the 10th over, scoring a 27-ball 28.

Markram was then joined by Rassie van der Dussen in the middle and the duo stitched an anchoring 54-run partnership before Usama Mir – Shadab Khan’s concussion replacement – trapped the latter lbw on 21.

South Africa then sustained a major blow to their pursuit as in-form Heinrich Klaasen (12) perished cheaply in the second over, causing South Africa to slip to 136/4.

Coming out to bat at number six, David Miller joined forces with Markram to put together a 70-run stand which lasted when Shaheen Afridi got the former caught behind in the 34th over.

He remained a notable contributor for South Africa with a 33-ball 29.

Markram was then involved in another crucial partnership when he, alongside, Marco Jansen added 29 runs to the total for the sixth wicket before Jansen fell victim to Haris Rauf after a brisk 20-run cameo.

South Africa’s mainstay Aiden Markram then finally perished in the 41st over with the scoreboard reading 250.

He looked to heave Usama over the top but only managed a leading edge to hand a simple catch to Babar Azam.

He remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a gutsy 91 in 93 deliveries, laced up with seven boundaries and three sixes.

South Africa further slipped to 250/8 in the next over when Gerald Coetzee got caught behind off Shaheen. He could score 10 in 13 deliveries.

With the departure of all their set batters, South Africa’s hopes were on Keshav Maharaj.

He put on a sensational 10-run partnership with Lungi Ngidi (4) before a match-winning 11-run partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi (4*).

Maharaj remained unbeaten with a 21-ball seven which featured one boundary.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 3/45 while Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged two wickets each.

After opting to bat, Pakistan slipped to 38-2 in the seventh over, with both opening batters back in the dugout.

Skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then raised a 48-run stand for the third wicket before the latter knicked Gerald Coetzee to Quinton De Kock.

Rizwan’s 27-ball 31 featured four boundaries and one six.

Iftikhar Ahmed, who was promoted to bat at number five, then helped knit a 41-run partnership with Babar Azam. However, Tabraiz Shamsi removed both batters in back-to-back overs to reduce Pakistan to 141-5.

Babar Azam scored a 65-ball 50, while Iftikhar Ahmed contributed 21 runs from 31 balls.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan then stabilized Pakistan’s innings with a counterattacking partnership of 84 runs from 71 balls.

Coetzee returned to the attack to break the stand, as Shadab Khan spooned a bumper to the safe hands of Keshav Maharaj at short midwicket.

Khan scored 43 off 36 with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

Saud Shakeel completed his third ODI half-century before getting caught behind by Shamsi at a total of 240-7. His run-a-ball 52 featured seven boundaries.

Mohammad Nawaz then scored an anchoring 24 to help drag Pakistan’s total to 268, before a leading edge off Marco Jansen flew high and was caught by David Miller.

Subsequently, Lungi Ngidi picked his solitary wicket to wrap Pakistan’s innings at 270.

Tabraiz Shamsi topped the bowling charts for South Africa with his four-fer, while Marco Jansen achieved figures of 3-43.

READ: Maheesh Theekshana says England ‘underestimated’ us

PAKISTAN vs SOUTH AFRICA (2nd INNINGS)

Set to chase 271, South Africa’s number nine Keshav Maharaj scored the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz on the second delivery of the 48th over.

South African openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma gave their side a brisk start by scoring 30 runs in the first two overs.

Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi spoiled South Africa’s flying start as he got rid of in-form de Kock in the fourth over. The left-handed opener scored a 14-ball 24, hitting five boundaries.

Aiden Markram then joined Bavuma in the middle and the pair shared a 33-run stand before the Proteas captain perished in the 10th over, scoring a 27-ball 28.

Markram was then joined by Rassie van der Dussen in the middle and the duo stitched an anchoring 54-run partnership before Usama Mir – Shadab Khan’s concussion replacement – trapped the latter lbw on 21.

South Africa then sustained a major blow to their pursuit as in-form Heinrich Klaasen (12) perished cheaply in the second over, causing South Africa to slip to 136/4.

Coming out to bat at number six, David Miller joined forces with Markram to put together a 70-run stand which lasted when Shaheen Afridi got the former caught behind in the 34th over.

He remained a notable contributor for South Africa with a 33-ball 29.

Markram was then involved in another crucial partnership when he, alongside, Marco Jansen added 29 runs to the total for the sixth wicket before Jansen fell victim to Haris Rauf after a brisk 20-run cameo.

South Africa’s mainstay Aiden Markram then finally perished in the 41st over with the scoreboard reading 250.

He looked to heave Usama over the top but only managed a leading edge to hand a simple catch to Babar Azam.

He remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a gutsy 91 in 93 deliveries, laced up with seven boundaries and three sixes.

South Africa further slipped to 250/8 in the next over when Gerald Coetzee got caught behind off Shaheen. He could score 10 in 13 deliveries.

With the departure of all their set batters, South Africa’s hopes were on Keshav Maharaj.

He put on a sensational 10-run partnership with Lungi Ngidi (4) before a match-winning 11-run partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi (4*).

Maharaj remained unbeaten with a 21-ball seven which featured one boundary.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 3/45 while Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged two wickets each.

PAKISTAN vs SOUTH AFRICA (1st INNINGS)

Opting to bat first, Pakistan could raise 270 runs on the board despite anchoring half-centuries by captain Babar Azam and Suad Shakeel.

Openers Abdullah Shafique (9) and Imam-ul-Haq (12) failed to give Pakistan a steady start as both perished cheaply to Marco Jansen with just 38 runs on the board in the seventh over.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam then joined forces with Mohammad Rizwan. The duo put together a 48-run stand before the latter fell victim to Gerald Coetzee after scoring a 27-ball 31.

Babar was then involved in a crucial 43-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed before both perished in quick succession to leave Pakistan reeling 141/5.

Babar scored 50 off 65 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.

Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan then knitted the most valuable partnership of the innings as they added 84 runs for the sixth wicket before both fell in the span of 15 deliveries.

Shadab scored a 36-ball 43 while Saud top-scored for Pakistan with a run-a-ball 52, laced up with seven boundaries.

Mohammad Nawaz then played a brief 24-run cameo at the backend before South Africa wrapped up Pakistan’s innings on 270 in the 47th over.

Shamsi led the bowling attack with 4-60, followed by Gerald Coetzee’s 3/43 while Jansen bagged two wickets.

FALL OF WICKETS

46.4: Mohammad Wasim Jr 7 (9b 0x4 1×6) SR 77.77

Wasim Jr with a huge thrash through the line, fifth-stump, a thin snick of willow as the ball flies through to the keeper.

45.5: Mohammad Nawaz 24 (24b 1×4 2×6) SR: 100

Nawaz has a hack through the line but his weight is still back in the crease in a defensive position. A huge leading-edge flies high to the off-side, Miller hurtles in from point and gathers well.

44.2: Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

Shamsi outclasses Shaheen by a pinpoint accurate delivery on a length as the batter spoons it to Temba Bavuma at slip.

42.1: Saud Shakeel 52 (52b 7×4 0x6) SR: 100

Shamsi bowls a quicker leg break much closer to the off stump, he throws his bat at it and nicks it through to the keeper.

39.4: Shadab Khan 43 (36b 3×4 2×6) SR: 119.44

Coetzee hurled down a bumper, ball skimming at head height, 140kph on the speed dial, Shadab tried to tug that away but ended up spooning it to short midwicket, Maharaj pouched it safely in his hands.

27.5: Babar Azam 50 (65b 4×4 1×6) SR: 76.92

Sharp leg spin by Shamsi and Babar tried to scoop it over the keeper’s head but failed to connect. They decided to send it upstairs after the umpire turned down the appeal. There is a slight deflection as the ball passes the gloves and the on-field umpire has to change his decision.

25.1: Iftikhar Ahmed 21 (31b 1×4 1×6) SR: 67.74

Iftikhar came down the pitch and got the leading edge, got befuddled by Shamsi’s googly, the ball hung in the air for a while and Klaasen pouched it safely at long-on.

15.5: Mohammad Rizwan 31 (27b 4×4 1×6) SR: 114.81

A wild swipe across the line by Rizwan, not remotely settled against the sharp pace and heavy lift off the deck. This one skims through at helmet height, and it’s a faint but clear top edge through to the keeper.

6.3: Imam-ul-Haq 12 (18b 2×4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Perfect length, right up in the arc for the drive by Jansen, but the line was outside off and the pace was fractionally down, and a deep-set slip is waiting to pick off the chance.

4.3: Abdullah Shafique 9 (17b 1×4 0x6) SR: 52.94

Shafique climbed into the short ball by Jansen, seeking to lift it over the ropes, but got right underneath his stroke. The backward square was well positioned on the edge of the rope and the chance just plopped into his hands.

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the 26th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 82, Pakistan 30, South Africa 51, NR 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 5, Pakistan 2, South Africa 3

READ: Maheesh Theekshana says England ‘underestimated’ us

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the 26th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 82, Pakistan 30, South Africa 51, NR 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 5, Pakistan 2, South Africa 3

READ: Pakistan take on ruthless South Africa in must-win World Cup game

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana on Thursday said defending champions England “underestimated” his team in their key ICC World Cup 2023 clash.

The island nation bundled out a struggling England for 156 inside 34 overs and reached their target with 146 balls to spare in Bengaluru.

Jos Buttler’s England slipped to their fourth defeat in five matches to be on the brink of elimination in ICC World Cup 2023 while Sri Lanka kept their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals.

“I think they underestimated our team because we also lost three games and we only won against Netherlands. I think they underestimated us,” Theekshana told reporters.

“That’s why the result went our way because we backed our strength, we went with a simple plan, so that’s why we won the game today.”

Maheesh Theekshana, who returned miserly figures of 1-21 with his mystery spin, added: “Our confidence as a team has increased a lot because we have won two matches so far. And this match is a match in which we got a very happy victory.

“As a team, we are looking to play well in the upcoming four matches and reach the semifinals.”

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara stood out with figures of 3-35 before Pathum Nissanka (77) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65) steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 137.

But it was the return of former captain Angelo Mathews that spurred the team on in the must-win match in the ICC World Cup 2023.

Mathews, who came in as a replacement for injured Matheesha Pathirana, made an instant impact with the first wicket of Dawid Malan, for 38, and later dismissed Moeen Ali, for 15.

Mathews, who has played 106 Tests and 222 ODIs for Sri Lanka since 2008, gave away just 14 runs in his five overs, which included a maiden as well, of medium-pace bowling.

“As a team, we are very happy that a very experienced player has joined our team. He has played in India. We have a lot to learn from him,” Maheesh Theekshana said of the veteran all-rounder.

“Even when we bowled, we used his experience in the match. The whole team is very happy to have such an experienced player on the team.”

Sri Lanka, who won the World Cup in 1996, have jumped to fifth in the 10-team table after their second win in five matches.

READ: Pakistan take on ruthless South Africa in must-win World Cup game

Pakistan men’s cricket team, who are on a three-match losing streak take on unstoppable South Africa in their next ICC World Cup 2023 fixture at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.

With their backs against the wall, Pakistan are eager to roar back into the competition when they play South Africa in their sixth match of the mega event.

The team had a terrific start to their campaign with wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, but since have faced three consecutive defeats.

Resilience and ability to turn the most adverse situations in their favour are the traits that define this Pakistan side.

They pulled off an epic turnaround in Australia last year to play the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and scripted a fairy-tale by winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England despite starting the campaign on the wrong foot.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Mickey Arthur, the team director, is hopeful that Pakistan’s campaign will take another such turn on Friday.

“We said in the change room the other night that we have got six matches to win the World Cup,” Arthur told PCB Digital.

“We have to get on a streak and win six in a row. We know that as a unit, we know that as a team, we have to make sure we get our strategy 100%. We have to make sure that we get our execution 100% and if we do that, there is no reason why we cannot [win the World Cup].”

Pakistan faced a shock defeat to Afghanistan on Monday at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This loss followed defeats to India and Australia in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, respectively.

There have been, however, some glimpses of brilliance and to make sure that Pakistan consolidate their qualification chances to the semi-final, Arthur believes that they will have to click in all three facets of the game.

“I don’t think our skills have been where they’ve needed to be in those last three games, but these players have got the skills. It is up to us as coaches to make sure that we get them firing come Friday by giving them the confidence and the belief that they can turn this around,” Arthur said.

“We have not put a game together yet. We have not played the complete game. It is up to us to delve, to dig, to give advice, to give information and to give the belief that we can put that perfect game together because we know our perfect game is good enough. Our perfect game is good enough to beat anybody.

“We have to find it because there is a massive ambition within the playing group. The boys are trying out hard in the practice and I cannot fault their effort. I cannot fault attitude. What I can fault is the execution of skills under pressure, and that’s something that we continually work on at practice.”

South Africa are in good form entering the competition with four solid wins in five matches. Can Pakistan surmount the South Africa challenge? “They are a very good cricket team and they’re full of confidence because they have played well. I know though that if we do our basics and disciplines right, our skills will come out and we can beat anybody.”

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan are now sixth in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with four points in five matches while South Africa hold the second position with eight points in as many matches.

READ: Sri Lanka pip Pakistan in World Cup standings with England thrashing

MUMBAI: In-form Quinton de Kock played a swashbuckling 174-run knock before a combined bowling effort steered South Africa to humble Bangladesh by 149 runs in the 23rd match of the ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase a mammoth 383, Bangladesh were bundled out on a paltry 233 despite Mahmudullah’s grit.

South Africa pacers launched a collective attack on the Bangladesh top-order to leave the side reeling at 58/5 in 15 overs.

Coming out to bat at number six, Mahmudullah remained the standout batter for Bangladesh as he put on valiant partnerships with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11), Nasum Ahmed (19) and Hasan Mahmud (15).

He then put together an astounding 68-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Mustafizur Rahman – bringing up his valiant century in the process – before Gerald Coetzee finally sent him packing in the 46th over.

Mahmudullah top-scored for Bangladesh with a gutsy run-a-ball 111, which featured 11 boundaries and four sixes.

Lizaad Williams then dismissed Mustafizur (11) in the next over to complete a resounding victory for South Africa.

Coetzee led the bowling attack for South Africa with 3/62 in his 10 while Kagiso Rabada, Williams and Marco Jansen bagged two each.

South African batters justified their captain Aiden Markram’s decision to bat first as they racked up a huge total on the board.

The Proteas, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as they lost opener Reeza Hendricks (12) and Rassie van der Dussen (1) cheaply with just 36 runs on the board in the eighth over.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Following the early blow, Quinton de Kock was joined by skipper Markram and the pair settled things down with a sensible partnership.

They added 131 runs for the third wicket at a decent rate before Markram’s Bangladesh counterpart Shakib Al Hasan got rid of him in the 31st over.

He scored a cautious 60 in 69 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.

Quinton de Kock then joined forces with in-form hard-hitting batter Heinrich Klaasen and the duo after settling down, turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.

De Kock and Klaasen put together a 142-run partnership, conceding just 87 deliveries before the former finally perished in the 46th over.

He top-scored for South Africa with a quickfire 174 in 140 balls, laced up with 15 boundaries and seven sixes.

Klaasen then took charge of South Africa’s onslaught and was supported by David Miller, who scored a brisk 15-ball 34.

The two finishers knitted a sensational 65-run partnership, taking just 25 deliveries before Klaasen fell in the final over.

He fell just shy of his well-deserved century, scoring 90 in a mere 49 deliveries, smashing two boundaries and eight sixes.

Hasan Mahmud was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, picking up two wickets, while Shakib Al Hasan, Shoriful Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz made one scalp each.

READ: ‘Comfortable at three’ if Travis Head is back, says Mitchell Marsh

MUMBAI: South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first against Bangladesh in the 23rd match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Bangladesh

Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 24, South Africa 18, Bangladesh 6

ODI World Cup: Matches 4, South Africa 2, Bangladesh 2

READ: La Liga: Teen striker Guiu snatches Barcelona win over Athletic Bilbao