Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Pakistan fight back after Amla knock

- (AFP) –

Pakistan held South Africa to 234 for nine after Hashim Amla made 81 in their Champions Trophy clash at Edgbaston on Monday.

Both Pakistan and South Africa needed to win this day/night fixture after losing their opening Group B matches to the West Indies and India respective­ly.

Run-outs, which cost South Africa dear against India, proved a problem for the Proteas again with both skipper AB de Villiers, who won the toss, and JP Duminy falling to direct hits by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Misbah also held a stunning catch at extra-cover late on to dismiss David Miller.

Amla's innings apart, no other batsman made more than de Villiers' run-a-ball 31.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez took one for 38 from 10 overs and towering left-arm seamer Mohammd Irfan one for 27 in an innings featuring four run-outs, including two in the final over.

Each wicket was greeted with raucous cheers from an overwhelmi­ng pro-Pakistan 25,000 capacity crowd at Edgbaston, situated in Birmingham which boasts as one of the largest Asian population­s of any English city.

Now the question was whether the Proteas, missing injured strike fast bowlers Dale Steyn (side) and Morne Morkel, out of the tournament with a leg injury after breaking down against India, had enough runs to defend against a Pakistan side dismissed for just 170 by the West Indies.

Amla was dropped on seven when a cut off Irfan flew to backward point where Umar Amin dropped the tough chance.

 ??  ?? Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla

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