PAK VS RSA - Match 30, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

An absurd rain rule in 1992 in the semis, trial by spin in 1996 in the quarters, arguably the most famous run-out in 1999 in the semis, misinterpretation of the DL score in 2003 in the last league game, swatted aside in the 2007 in the semis, bullied in the quarters of the 2011 WC, and a last over heist in the 2015 WC semis. SA have seen it all in the World Cups. But nothing has been as abysmal as has been the performance in this edition. They have been the punching bags and most teams have drubbed them. The only solace is that the word 'choker' won't haunt them this time around as they are out of the semi-finals race now. Led by Faf Du Plessis, this South African team never arrived. They still have two more games to lift their position in the points table. It might sound inconsequential but might work as a healing balm for their cricketing pride which has taken a massive hit. Pakistan on the other hand are alive and kicking. Their menu consists of New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to follow. Three more wins and you never know. But the team of Kumar Abhisekh Das, MS Ramakrishnan, Sagar Chawla, Sriram, Nikhil Jadhav, Varun Dikshit, Venkatesh and Shashikant Singh doesn't believe in counting the chickens before they are hatched.

Sarfaraz Ahmed: 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. We have to work hard on our fielding. We dropped so many catches. All three matches are important. 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.

Faf du Plessis: We are not playing great cricket. We didn't bowl well. Have been good with the ball this tournament, but we started poorly today. 300 plus on that target was 20-25 more on that track. Made same mistakes with the bat. Guys getting in and getting out. Not spin. Not spinners in particular. We needed a good start. We haven't had that. As we are building partnerships, we have been losing wickets. That's the nature of our tournament. Not against spin. It has been case of confidence. We're working hard, putting in the practice. But confidence in sport is an amazing thing. When you are playing well, the ball just falls in your court. When you are playing against a quality team like Pakistan, they get a wicket they will put you under pressure. Imran has been amazing. To acknowledge him, he has been exceptional right through this tournament and has played with a lot of heart. He has led our attack and has been consistent in every game. But there haven't been enough guys like Imran standing up and that is why we finding ourselves in a position that we are in. The biggest downside at the moment is we haven't been able to do justice to ourselves as a team. Haven't played the cricket we're capable of. For me the biggest disappointment has been we have been letting ourselves down with the skill that's sitting in the dressing room.

Haris Sohail, MoM: It's tough when you're sitting out and waiting for your turn. My goal was to make the most of my opportunities. When I went in, I was told I have to build a partnership with Babar, but it wasn't easy out there. Just backed myself.

WAHAB RIAZ -- World Cups: 32 wkts; Avg 25.28; SR 26.6; Best 5/46. Other ODIs: 78 wkts; Avg 38.17; SR 39.7; Best 4/45

South Africa in World Cups
1992: Semifinal
1996: Quarterfinal
1999: Semifinal
2003: Group stage
2007: Semifinal
2011: Quarterfinal
2015: Semifinal
2019: Group stage

Pakistan vs South Africa in ICC events last ten years
WT20 2009: Pakistan (Seven runs)
WT20 2010: Pakistan (11 runs)
WT20 2012: Pakistan (Two wkts)
CT 2013: South Africa (67 runs)
WC 2015: Pakistan (29 runs)
CT 2017: Pakistan (19 runs)
WC 2019: Pakistan (49 runs)

Pakistan have 5 points now. Three more games, three more wins and they can make it 11. On the other hand, SA's hopes have dashed. No one would have ever imagined this. A dark day for Proteas. May be sadder superlatives will follow as the post-mortem of this performance is done in the days to come. And once again, none of their batsmen came to the party. The application was missing and again the starts never got converted into anything substantial. ABD or no ABD, this sort of cricket from one of cricket's powerhouse was never foreseen.

18:29 Local Time, 17:29 GMT, 22:59 IST: Sarfaraz just looked heavenwards for a moment after the game was done. He knows this was an important win. For a team which has been cornered by all and sundry in the build up to the game, a win by 49 runs will be a big shot in their arm. And a big chunk of the credit goes to Haris Sohail. His 59-ball run rampage which yielded 89 runs meant Pakistan had the cushion of that extra 20 runs. That gave them the momentum. And with the ball despite a shoddy effort on the field, Pakistan had all their aces up their sleeves. Their leggie spun a web and scalped three. And once the result was obvious, Wahab showed what a potent weapon he can be when the ball reverses. The dropped chances and half chances in the end didn't hurt Pakistan much. But they would be glad if they can come up with a corrective stance in the next game.

Amir to Phehlukwayo, 1 run, and that's it. Hoicked away to deep mid for a single. Pakistan win by 49 runs and stay alive in the tournament. But South Africa have been eliminated. First time since 2003 that they have failed to progress into the knock-outs

Amir to Phehlukwayo, no run, and that was a toe-pinger. Stingy delivery on to the boot and Phehlukwayo misses the heave on the on-side. That will pinch for sometime as Phehlukwayo sent his partner back who wanted a single

Amir to Phehlukwayo, FOUR, fuller ball and has been slammed past the man at cover. The man at deep cover dives over it and Phehlukwayo moves to 45. Had he farmed more strike, he could have already gotten his fifty

Amir to Phehlukwayo, 2 runs, is there a run-out? Phehlukwayo was scampering back for a couple. But he has made it. Top-edge and the ball landed well short of Shaheen, who didn't even make an attempt to take it. And to make matters worse for Pak, they stole a double

Amir to Phehlukwayo, 2 runs, looks to slap and gets it off the outer half of the bat to get a double. The man at deep third cuts it off

Five balls away from the inevitable.

Amir to Phehlukwayo, 2 runs, slams the full ball down the ground and gets a double

SA only 6 balls away from being eliminated. Sad day for their fans.

Riaz to Tahir, no run, and a meek push into the covers as another full delivery was aimed for the base of the sticks

Harsha Bhogle: South Africa must think this World Cup is one long nightmare they are unable to wake up from. Pakistan still alive!

Riaz to Tahir, no run, blocks the fuller delivery out

Riaz to Phehlukwayo, 1 run, drives the ball away into the covers for a single