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Karnataka overwhelm Tamil Nadu to retain Ranji title

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ranjii

Mumbai: Karnataka successfully defended their Ranji Trophy title in emphatic style as they trounced Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs in the final at the Wankhede Stadium here on Thursday.

Tottering at 113 for three overnight in their second innings after conceding a 628-run first innings lead, Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 411 runs to add to their first innings score of 134.

Baba Aparajith (68) and Vijay Shankar (103) put up a brave fight. After Aparajith’s departure with the scoreboard reading 191/4, it was veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik who tried steadying the sinking Tamil Nadu ship.

Right-hander Karthik notched up a 115-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Shankar and was fluent in his stroke-making.

But then it was Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar (2/43) who broke the partnership getting rid of Shankar holding onto a return catch.

Karthik continued in his merry ways, but the batters around him fell prey to Shreyas Gopal’s (4/126) spin and Sreenath Aravind’s (2/52) movement and pace.

Earlier in the match, Karnataka had put on a monumental total of 762 runs in their first innings. Right-hand middle-order batsman Karun Nair scored 328 — the highest in a Ranji Trophy final in the 92-year history of the country’s premier domestic cricket tournament.

Nair, 23, went past Baroda batsman Gul Mohammad’s 319 made against Holkar in the 1946-47 season final. Nair got good support from India Test Opener Lokesh Rahul (188) and the duo forged a 384-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Skipper R. Vinay Kumar also scored a ton (105) to ensure they amassed a monumental total of 762 all out. Vinay became the first captain to pick up a five-wicket haul and score a century in a Ranji final. He was only the second cricketer to achieve the feat after Vijay Hazare’s heroics in 1946-47 final.

After conceding the mammoth lead, Tamil Nadu went down by an innings and 217 runs, allowing Karnataka to lay their hands on their second consecutive and eighth Ranji Trophy title.

“It is a big moment for us. I would like to thank all the players, they have worked hard to achieve this milestone. I am very happy with my own performance,” skipper Vinay said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Ultimately, winning the Ranji Trophy is important. As I said last year, we have a good bunch of players. If we keep performing we will dominate the Indian domestic circuit. Next we will play the Irani Trophy and will try to win that.”

Losing captain Abhinav Mukund said: “We really did well in the first day. We could have batted better, but its history now. Rahul and Karun Nair took the game away from us.”

Mukund, however, was satisfied with the performance throughout the season.

“It has been a great season. After a poor start we have made to the finals. We will go back to the drawing board. We have competed well, I made around 800 runs. I could have carried on, but we ran into a good side.”

Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 134 all out, 411 all out (Dinesh Karthik 120, Vijay Shankar 103; Shreyas Gopal 4/126; Vinay Kumar 2/43)) lose to Karnataka 762 all out. Karnataka win by an innings and 217 runs.

(IANS)

Cricket World Cup 2015: Sangakkara scores fourth successive century

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Kumar Sangakkara

by Adam Williams, BBC Sport

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to score four successive one-day international centuries as his side beat Scotland at the World Cup.

The 37-year-old hit 124 in a total of 363-9 in Hobart, to go with his previous tons in the tournament against Bangladesh, England and Australia.

Sangakkara passed 500 ODI dismissals as Scotland were bowled out for 215.

Captain Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman scored half centuries but Sri Lanka finish with four wins in Pool A.

They look set to face South Africa in the first of the quarter-finals in Sydney on Wednesday.

Although they posted their best ever total batting second against a Test-playing nation, a fifth defeat means Scotland remain without a win. They will play co-hosts Australia in their final match on Saturday in Hobart.

On a day of records at Bellerive Oval, left-hander Sangakkara recorded his fifth World Cup century and is now one behind the record of six held by India’s Sachin Tendulkar.

He has now scored 14,189 ODI runs and only Tendulkar (18,426), who retired in 2013, has more runs for their country in the 50-over format.

Sangakkara, who became the first ever player to score four centuries at a World Cup, has previously suggested he will retire from ODI cricket at the end of the tournament.

The wicketkeeper has enjoyed a prolific spell in the last 12-18 months, becoming the fastest player to reach 12,000 Test runs in January in the same match in which he scored his 11th double century, moving him one behind the record held by Australian great Don Bradman.

His 124 against Scotland in Hobart followed earlier scores of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England and 104 against Australia.

Batting first, Sri Lanka’s total owed much to a 195-run partnership for the second-wicket between Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan (104).

They reached their respective centuries in consecutive balls before being dismissed in the space of two balls by Scotland seamer Josh Davey.

Davey’s figures of 3-63 moved him to the top of the World Cup wicket-takers with 14, one ahead of New Zealand pair Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

A 20-ball half century from Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, which included four successive sixes off the bowling of Matt Machan had put them on course for a score of more than 400.

But a flurry of late wickets and some impressive catching meant Scotland restricted their tail enders.

Scotland’s reply got off to the worst possible start when Kyle Coetzer presented a simple return catch to Lasith Malinga second ball of the innings.

Captain Mommsen (60) and Coleman (70) ensured the chase had respectability with a 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

But once they had departed, only all-rounder Richie Berrington (29) could make a score of any note.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland dealt qualification blow by India

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Ireland-India

by Phil Dawkes, BBC Sport

Ireland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals suffered a blow as India sealed top spot in Pool B with a fifth straight win in the tournament.

Ireland came into the match knowing that a point would see them qualify.

Despite an opening stand of 89 between William Porterfield and Paul Stirling and 75 from Niall O’Brien, their 259 total was never likely to be enough.

So it proved as Shikhar Dhawan (100) and Rohit Sharma (64) helped India to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

The margin of defeat is a reality check for Ireland, who have performed well above expectation in this tournament, claiming three wins (two against Test-playing nations) to give them six points and genuine hope of reaching the last eight.

They can still do so, but they will need to beat Pakistan in their final pool game or gain a point should the fixture be rained off.

Much like their game with South Africa, in which they conceded 411 runs before being bowled out for 210, the gulf in class between the sides in Hamilton was vast.

They started well, with Porterfield (67) and Stirling (42) using the pace of the opening bowlers well to amass an encouraging opening stand and suggest a competitive total over 300 was a possibility.

But India’s switch to spin bowling halted their progress as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravinda Jadeja and Suresh Raina frustrated the top order and claimed the important wickets of Ed Joyce (bowled by Raina) and Andy Balbirnie (caught by Mohammed Shami off Ashwin).

Niall O’Brien offered resistance and hit well but when he and brother Kevin both fell to Shami, Ireland’s hopes of a decent score disappeared, with the returning Indian pace bowlers cleaning up the tail.

It was the fourth time India had bowled out a team in this high-scoring World Cup but Ireland’s consolation is that they made the highest total against MS Dhoni’s side.

Ireland had two opportunities to gain a foothold early in the India innings as Dhawan twice presented difficult catching chances off the bowling of John Mooney but the bowler was unable to hold on to the first and the second eluded the grasp of Porterfield at square leg.

After that, India were ruthless as Dhawan and Sharma amassed 174 before the latter chopped on to his own stumps from World Cup debutant Stuart Thompson.

Thompson, whose first over went for 18 before he was hastily withdrawn, also claimed the wicket of Dhawan, who miscued one to Porterfield at deep cover, but these were the only high points of the innings for Ireland as Virat Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (33) saw the reigning champions home with 79 balls to spare.

Cricket World Cup 2015: England knocked out by Bangladesh

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rubel_hossain

by Stephan Shemilt, BBC Sport

England were knocked out of the World Cup in dismal fashion as Bangladesh claimed a stunning 15-run win.

Set 276 to win, England were bowled out for 260 despite Jos Buttler’s 52-ball 65, while Rubel Hossain claimed 4-53.

Bangladesh had earlier posted 275-7 in Adelaide thanks to 103 from Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 89.

England go out in the first round for the third time in five World Cups, while Bangladesh advance past the first round for only the second occasion.

Bangladesh’s victory also secured Sri Lanka’s place in the last eight, alongside Pool A winners New Zealand and Australia.

England, meanwhile, face a dead rubber against Afghanistan in Sydney on Friday.

A fourth England defeat in five games is the latest episode in 23 years of World Cup failure and the continuation of a horrendous 18 months in all formats.

In losing to every Test-playing side in Pool A – their only win has come against Scotland – England have put in their worst showing since a first-round exit on home soil in 1999. Even then, they managed to beat defending champions Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, along with Australia and New Zealand, are three sides to have dished out heavy defeats to England in this tournament, but all three are ahead of Eoin Morgan’s side in the world rankings.

Bangladesh lie above only Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan, yet have now beaten England in three of their past four meetings.

One of those was with home advantage in the last World Cup, but this time England wilted when chasing a manageable target on a blameless surface.

They seemed in control when Ian Bell and the recalled Alex Hales were compiling a second-wicket stand of 54, only for the Bangladesh pacemen to return and drag England to a standstill.

Hales flat-footedly wafted Mashrafe Mortaza behind and Bell, who had looked fluent, was stifled before edging a Hossain lifter on 63.

In the same over, Morgan pulled to long leg for a fifth duck in 11 ODI innings and, when James Taylor flashed Taskin Ahmed to slip, England had lost three wickets for 11 runs.

Joe Root looked calm before edging Mortaza behind to leave Buttler and the tail requiring 113 from 14 overs.

The wicketkeeper’s clean striking dragged England back in it, with 38 required from 28 balls.

However Taskin returned to find another edge and, when Chris Jordan was run out from the next ball, the game looked gone.

Woakes continued the chase in the company of Stuart Broad and, after Tamim Iqbal put down a simple chance to reprieve the Warwickshire man with only 18 required, England had another chance.

But in the next over Hossain bowled Broad and James Anderson in the space of three balls to start delirious celebrations of Bangladesh’s most famous win.

That they had pulled off such an upset was largely thanks to the brilliance of Mahmudullah, who made Bangladesh’s first World Cup hundred, and the impetus of Mushfiqur.

Despite 12 of the 15 previous games held in Australia being won by the side batting first, England opted to field and the decision looked a good one when Bangladesh were reduced to 8-2 and 99-4.

But Mahmudullah, happy to throw his hands through the ball, and Mushfiqur, excellent square of the wicket, steadied then took advantage of England’s occasional errors in length to build a stand of 141.

Fielding and death bowling improved on the rest of the tournament left England with a target that was within their grasp.

But the desperate attempt at a run chase was entirely in keeping with the rest of their World Cup campaign.

Saina Nehwal loses All England final to Carolina Marin

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After suffering heartbreaks at the semifinals of the event twice before, it was yet another case of so near yet so far

Nehwal, who has been competing at the All England since 2007, had never lost to Marin before. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP

Nehwal, who has been competing at the All England since 2007, had never lost to Marin before. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP

Birmingham: Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal’s quest for becoming the first Indian woman to win the most prestigious All England badminton championship ended in agony after she suffered a heart-breaking loss to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Nehwal let go of a huge opportunity to script history as she squandered an opening game lead to go down 21-16, 14-21, 7-21 to the reigning world champion in the women’s singles final that lasted for little over an hour.

Olympic bronze medallist Nehwal, thus, failed to emulate her long-time coach Pullella Gopichand (2001) and legendary Prakash Padukone (1980), who had won the prestigious title in the past.

Nehwal, who has been competing at the All England since 2007, had never lost to Marin and looked on course for an encore before the World No. 6 Spaniard scripted a remarkable comeback in the second game to put paid to the Indian’s hopes at the Barclaycard Arena.

After dominating the opening game completely, Nehwal was leading 11-9 in the second but lost steam after the break, as Marin fought back brilliantly and bagged eight out of the last nine points.

In the decider, Marin stamped her authority with her sharp smashes and better movement to completely make it a one-sided contest as Saina could only watch her hopes went up in smoke.

After suffering heartbreaks at the semifinals of the event in 2010 and 2013, it was yet another case of so near yet so far for the girl from Hyderabad, who has at least 16 international titles in her kitty.

Nehwal had in fact defeated the very same opponent in the finals of the Syed Modi International championship at Lucknow in January early this year and started as the hot favourite in Sunday’s final.

Cricket World Cup 2015: New Zealand beat Afghanistan

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by Mark Mitchener, BBC Sport

New Zealand made it five wins from five at the World Cup as a six-wicket win in Napier eliminated Afghanistan from quarter-final contention.

Veteran spinner Daniel Vettori (4-18) reduced Afghanistan to 59-6 before Samiullah Shenwari (54) and Najibullah Zadran (56) helped them to 186 all out.

Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum then hit a rapid 42 from 19 balls.

Martin Guptill made 57 as the Kiwis, already in the quarter-finals, cruised home with 13.5 overs to spare.

McCullum powered two boundaries in the first over of New Zealand’s reply and by the time his entertaining cameo was ended when he edged Mohammad Nabi onto his stumps via his pads, they were 53-1 in the sixth over and on course for victory.

Australia’s 64-run win over Sri Lanka in Sydney later on Sunday confirmed New Zealand as Pool A winners.

It looked as though the co-hosts would face a much smaller target thanks to Vettori, who was introduced as early as the third over to allow the opening bowlers to change ends and knocked over teenager Usman Ghani’s off stump with his first ball.

After seamer Trent Boult accounted for Javed Ahmadi and Asghar Stanikzai, Vettori returned for a second spell to bowl Nawroz Mangal (27) for the 36-year-old’s 300th one-day international wicket.

Vettori then struck twice in successive deliveries to have captain Nabi caught at slip and trap Afsar Zazai lbw first ball, at which point he had four wickets for five runs.

“The guys bowled really well and obviously Dan was the stand-out performer,” said McCullum.

“He is a special cricketer for what he has achieved in all three formats of the game over two decades. To see him achieve another milestone is fantastic.”

With the co-hosts firmly on top, almost their entire team were crouched around the bat for the hat-trick ball, which was safely negotiated by Najibullah.

While Shenwari dropped anchor, Najibullah took the attack to the seamers at a sweltering McLean Park before eventually slicing Adam Milne to Vettori at third man.

Shenwari, who needed treatment after being struck on the helmet by a Corey Anderson bouncer, shepherded the tail to reach his second half-century of the World Cup, while some lusty blows from Hamid Hassan helped add 20 for the last wicket.

While the Shenwari-Najibullah stand of 86 restored respectability to Afghanistan – who could point to having exceeded both England’s and Australia’s scores against New Zealand – the result never looked in doubt.

It appeared as though Guptill would see the Kiwis to victory before a mid-pitch hesitation saw him run out with 44 still needed.

McCullum added: “Credit to Afghanistan for the way they fought back and posted a score which was a bit tricky for us. But it is another World Cup win and we’re pretty happy at the moment.”

Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia overcome Sri Lanka in Sydney

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by Nick Royle, BBC Sport

Glenn Maxwell hit the second-fastest century in World Cup history as Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs to advance to the quarter-finals.

Maxwell’s first one-day international ton, reached off 51 balls, inspired Australia’s total of 376-9 in Sydney.

Sri Lanka fell short in a spirited run chase despite a third consecutive World Cup century from Kumar Sangakkara and a quickfire 52 from Dinesh Chandimal.

Australia are likely to meet either Ireland or Pakistan in the last eight.

Michael Clarke’s side, who face Scotland in their final Pool A match in Hobart on 14 March, should finish second behind New Zealand in their group, and would therefore meet the team that finishes third in Pool B.

Sri Lanka, who lie in third place in the group with six points from their five matches, also face Scotland in their final Pool A match in Hobart on 11 March.

Maxwell hit 10 fours and four sixes in an innings of 102 that combined deft placement with power hitting, as the 26-year-old finally reached three figures in his 45th ODI.

He was denied a share of the fastest World Cup century arguably only by his own honesty, after he answered in the negative when asked by umpire Ian Gould whether he had got a touch on a legside glance off Lasith Malinga in the 45th over.

Maxwell bought up his hundred in the next over, off 51 deliveries, one more than it took Ireland batsman Kevin O’Brien to decimate the England attack in Bangalore in 2011. However, it is the fastest ODI century by an Australian, beating James Faulkner’s 57-ball century against India in 2013.

The Victorian received a bear-hug from batting partner Shane Watson, who hit 67 runs in 41 balls on his return to the side after being dropped for the previous match against Afghanistan.

“I didn’t know about the record World Cup century, but I knew about the Australian record because James Faulkner doesn’t shut up about it!” Maxwell said.

Steve Smith (68) and captain Michael Clarke (72) had earlier laid the platform for a huge Australia total with a 134-run stand for the second wicket in 23.1 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan set the tone for the Sri Lanka reply by hitting Mitchell Johnson for six consecutive fours off the fifth over, much to the Australia fast bowler’s incredulity, as he and Sangakkara, a batting duo with a combined age of 75, put on 130 for the second wicket.

Sri Lanka were always struggling to keep on top of the rate, particularly after Australia captain Clarke broke a dangerous third-wicket partnership with a direct hit from mid-off to account for Mahela Jayawardene (19) in the 31st over.

Sangakkara completed a third consecutive century in this tournament, a World Cup first, and his sixth hundred in his last 11 ODIs, but his dismissal to James Faulkner in the 34th over left Sri Lanka still needing 176 from 97 balls.

Chandimal hit a lusty 24-ball 52 after Sangakkara’s dismissal to keep Sri Lanka’s slim hopes alive, but his exit retired hurt in the 42nd over effectively spelled the end of the unlikely run chase.

Clarke was pleased that his bowlers did not panic when Dilshan, Sangakkara and then Chandimal began to score freely in the Sri Lanka response.

“If we can hold our nerve like that we give ourselves a chance. Watching players around the world scoring so quickly and freely, teams can chase any score now,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews believes his side would have been well in the game if his bowlers had been able to check the scoring in the final overs of the Australia innings.

“We conceded 200 runs in the last 16 overs and it was way too much – 340 would have been a real good chase,” he admitted.

Cricket World Cup 2015: Ed Joyce delight after Ireland beat Zimbabwe

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Ireland

by BBC Sport

Ed Joyce praised Ireland’s bowlers after his century helped secure a thrilling five-run World Cup Pool B victory over Zimbabwe in Hobart.

Joyce hit 112 while Alex Cusack took two wickets in the final over as Ireland moved into a qualifying spot.

“To get them four down early on was a great effort – I think that won the game for us,” said the Sussex batsman.

“It’s fantastic for the tournament to have these close games and we seem to be playing in a lot of them.”

Joyce’s third one-day international century, along with a fine 97 from Andrew Balbirnie, helped Ireland post 331-8, their highest ever score at a World Cup, but Zimbabwe looked like chasing down the record chase.

Brendan Taylor’s superb 121 gave Zimbabwe hope and there was controversy when John Mooney took a catch close to the boundary board to dismiss Sean Williams, who scored 96, with 19 balls left.

The third umpire was called to judge the catch, although Williams did not remain on the field of play after he instead opted to take the word of Mooney that he had taken the catch inside the board.

Alex Cusack held his nerve as he claimed the final two wickets in the last over, first getting Regis Chakabva to drag on before Tawanda Mupariwa skied a catch captain William Porterfield gratefully accepted.

“I had a little luck, being dropped a couple of times, but I was really happy with how I hit the ball after a got to 50,” added Joyce, who was named man of the match.

“I played well but I think Andrew Balbirnie probably had a better innings.

“William Porterfield was the right man to be under that final catch and Alex Cusack was the right man to be bowling.”

Ireland face holders India, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals, on Tuesday in Hamilton before taking on Pakistan in their final pool game on 15 March in Adelaide.

The last match is likely to be a must-win game for the Irish after Pakistan moved above them on run-rate thanks to a surprise victory over South Africa on Saturday.

“It looks like we will have to win one of our final two games and I think it will probably all come down to the Pakistan match,” said Joyce.

“But that’s the way it should be to get through – you should have to win a lot of games.

“Pakistan are one of those teams, especially if they get a score on the board, who are very difficult to chase down as they have a lot of skilful bowlers.

“It will be exciting for both teams and exciting for the tournament.”

Saina Nehwal beats Yihan, storms into All England semis

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Birmingham: Leading Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal got the better of former Chinese World Champion Yihan Wang 21-19, 21-6 to march into the semifinals of the $500,000 All England Open Badminton Championships at the Barclaycard Arena here.

The Olympic bronze medallist was in her element from the start on Friday and never allowed Yihan to dictate the pace of play in the 39-minute contest. With the win, the World No.3 improved her career record against the Olympic silver medallist to 2-8.

The performance also helped the 24-year-old to equal her best showing at the prestigious Super Series Premier event. Saina, who was in the last four here previously in 2010 and 2013, earned a statement-making victory against Yihan, whom she has struggled to beat in the past.

Now, for a place in the final, Saina will meet World No.18 Sun Yu of China on Saturday against whom the Indian has won one and lost one.

At the start, Yihan threatened to run away as she took a 6-2 lead. However, the Indian clawed back to equalise at 8-all. It was a neck-and-neck affair till 13-all. Saina then came up with her vintage game to grab a five-point lead (18-13). She moved sharply and more importantly her defence was up to the task.

Even though World No.5 Yihan fought back with three straight points, Saina managed to hold her nerves and sealed the first game 21-19.

In the second game, Saina upped the ante and took an 8-0 lead in no time, aided by some regal cross-court smashes. Producing a volley of winners, Saina made it a cakewalk in the end with a 21-6 win.

“I’m happy with how I played. My strokes were good. We have had great fights in the past and I have a poor record against her so it’s unbelievable I was able to beat her with less than 10 points in the second game,” Saina said.

On her prospects against Sun Yu, Saina added, “I wasn’t expecting to play tomorrow. It’s a big match and it won’t be easy. I will get some rest and think about that later.”

In the other semi-final, reigning World Champion Carolina Marin will face seventh seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.

(IANS)

Cricket World Cup 2015: Pakistan beat South Africa in thriller

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by Stephan Shemilt, BBC Sport

Pakistan’s pace bowlers stunned South Africa to earn a thrilling 29-run win in Pool B of the World Cup.

Chasing 232 in Auckland, South Africa looked well placed on 67-1, before Pakistan’s left-arm trio got to work.

Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali and Mohammad Irfan dismissed the Proteas for 202, despite captain AB de Villiers’ 77.

Pakistan had earlier scraped to 222, with South Africa’s total adjusted after rain reduced the match to 47 overs per side.

The victory, a third in succession, means Pakistan will definitely reach the quarter-finals if they beat Ireland in their final group game on 15 March.

Even if they lose in Adelaide, Misbah-ul-Haq’s side will have a chance of progressing on net run-rate depending on other results involving the Irish and West Indies.

For South Africa, a first opportunity to reach the last eight was missed, but their qualification will be assured with a win against the UAE on Thursday.

They arrived at Eden Park on the back of consecutive scores in excess of 400 but, like their earlier defeat by India, wilted when faced with the pressure of a run-chase.

De Villiers attempted a single-handed pursuit as the rest of his team failed to deal with the pace and hostility of the Pakistan attack.

The Proteas had earlier been cruising during a stand of 67 between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, but, when Du Plessis feathered Rahat behind, it began a collapse of four wickets for 10 runs.

Amla was brilliantly caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed off Riaz, Rilee Rossouw hooked the same bowler to fine leg and David Miller was trapped in front by Rahat.

When Irfan returned to have JP Duminy caught hooking, De Villiers was left to play a virtually lone hand, pulling Riaz for two sixes in the same over.

He dished out similar treatment to Afridi and flayed the attack in the batting powerplay to make an unlikely victory appear possible.

But, he edged an attempted hook off Sohail Khan behind with 32 still required and, soon after, Riaz found the edge of last man Imran Tahir to give Sarfraz a record-equalling sixth catch..

The Proteas had succumbed to sort of pace and bounce that their own bowlers had earlier produced to restrict Pakistan to what seemed like a substandard total.

Sarfraz, at the top of the order in place of Nasir Jamshed, took the fight to South Africa by heaving three leg-side sixes from one Duminy over.

However, when he was needlessly run out by Miller’s good work in the outfield, South Africa chipped through the Pakistan batting.

Indeed, the Proteas may have restricted Pakistan further had De Villiers not had to bowl six overs of his medium pace to cover for the expensive Duminy, who was on his return from injury.

Still, when Pakistan lost their final five wickets for 10 runs after a second rain delay, that seemed academic.

Captain Misbah was the eighth man out, his defiant 56 a fourth half-century in five innings. His team seemed beaten, yet, in fact, they already had enough.

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