South African bowler Muhammad Imran Tahir (right) watches the ball head to the boundary as Pakistan captain Misbah Ul Haq runs down the wicket during the Pool B 2015 Cricket World Cup match at Eden Park, yesterday. Pakistan won by 29 runs. (PHOTOS: AFP)
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Pakistan clinched a thrilling 29-run win over South Africa to stay on course for the World Cup quarter-finals, while Ireland also eyed the last eight with a nail-biting five-run victory over Zimbabwe.
Chasing just 232 to win under the Duckworth-Lewis method at Eden Park in Auckland, South Africa, who would have been assured of a quarter-final slot had they won, were bowled out for 202 despite captain AB de Villiers’ valiant 77.
Rahat Ali grabbed a career-best three for 40, with fellow left-arm seamers Mohammad Irfan (three for 52) and Wahab Riaz (three for 45) as South Africa were dismissed in 33.3 overs in a game which ended in a torrential downpour.
The result left South Africa and Pakistan both on six points and well placed for the quarter-finals.
Ireland are in fourth but also have six points and a game in hand on the two Test-playing nations.
They are also two points ahead of the West Indies, leaving the four sides to fight over the three remaining spots in the last eight in a Pool B from which defending champions India have already qualified.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis saw parallels with the team of 1992 who won the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand despite losing three of their opening five games with just one win and a no-result.
The match was twice held up for rain and the second stoppage did little for Pakistan’s fragile confidence as they lost five wickets for the addition of just 25 runs.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq top scored with 56 off 86 balls — his fourth half-century in five matches at this World Cup and the 42nd of his career — as the 40-year-old went past 5,000 one-day international runs, although he still awaits a first century.
But Pakistan were left kicking themselves after squandering an impressive start which had seen Sarfraz Ahmed mark his first game of the tournament with 49 before he was run out and veteran Younis Khan hit 37.
Sarfraz later claimed a record-equalling six catches behind the stumps.
Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis comfortably put on 67 for the second wicket before Pakistan sensationally lived up to South Africa coach Russell Domingo’s pre-match assessment of their “predictable unpredictability”.
South Africa conclude their pool programme against the UAE in Wellington on Thursday, while Pakistan face Ireland in Adelaide next Sunday, the same day that the West Indies play the UAE in Napier.