LEEDS: Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said the close win over Afghanistan was a “full team effort,” after his side side pulled off a dramatic three-wicket victory here to stay alive in the World Cup.
There were contributions from Babar Azam (45) and Imam-ul Haq (36) at the top order while chasing a modest 228 on Saturday, but it required a special innings from Imad Wasim, who took Pakistan to the finishing line with an unbeaten 49-run knock under pressure.
“It is a great win for us. Not an easy pitch to bat on, but credit goes to Imad – the way he batted, the way he handled pressure, hats off to him. We knew it was not an easy chase, their bowlers used the conditions very well,” said Sarfaraz after Pakistan jumped to fourth spot in the table with nine points from eight games.
“Babar and Imam played very well, we needed a partnership in the middle that didn’t happen, but we got it in the end. A full team effort. We all knew it’s not an easy task in the World Cup, but we took it match by match,” he said.
The Pakistan skipper also praised left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned a four-wicket haul.
“Shaheen is improving day by day, he’s working very hard. The other bowlers also bowled really well. All are in good nick,” he said adding that now they will keenly follow Sunday’s India-England game since if the hosts lose, Pakistan will have a better chance to make it to the last-four.
Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib admitted that fluffed chances cost them the game.
“We fought very well and gave 100 per cent but in the end we missed an opportunity to win the match. But credit goes to Pakistan. Imad played really well and Shadab gave him the strike well. We’re playing these kind of teams, so you’ll face these situations,” he said.
“Bad luck for us today, Hamid Hasan was injured. The wicket was slow and turning, credit to (Mohammad) Nabi, Mujeeb (Ur Rahman), Rashid (Khan) and Sami (Samiullah Shinwari) also. But we missed Hamid.”
Naib said his batsmen need to score big knocks.
“I said at the start of the tournament 30-40 is not enough, you need 60-70 or 100, then you can put up a good total. Each batsman, including me, should go one step forward. We are learning a lot, so hopefully we’ll do well in the future,” he concluded. (AGENCIES)
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SPO-WC-BOULT
Australia are the team to beat in this WC, says Kiwi star Boult
LONDON, June 30:
Boasting of a good World Cup record, five-time champions Australia are the team to beat in the ongoing edition of the game’s showpiece event, said New Zealand pacer Trent Boult.
In a repeat of 2015 final between the trans-Tasman rivals, pace spearhead Boult’s historic hat-trick went in vain as Mitchell Starc’s (5/26) brilliant five-for guided Australia to a convincing 86-run win over New Zealand at the Lord’s here on Saturday.
With his swinging full-pitched deliveries, Boult sent back the well-settled Usman Khawaja (88 off 129 balls), Starc and Jason Behrendorff, while giving away just two runs of the last over to become the first Kiwi to grab a hat-trick in the World Cup.
But his efforts proved futile as New Zealand were shot out for 157.
By virtue of the win, defending champions Australia, who are already through to the semifinals, have consolidated their position at the top with 14 points from eight games.
“Australia turn up for World Cups. They have a good record in them and they’re peaking nicely. They produced the complete performance and they were too good for us,” said Boult, who returned with figures of 4 for 51.
“There are some quality sides here but it’s all about timing in my opinion and Australia are performing well, there’s only a couple of weeks left and they’re the ones to beat.”
Boult was effusive in his praise for pace counterpart Starc, the tournament’s
best bowler so far.
Boult was joint leading wicket-taker in the 2015 tournament with 22 wickets, alongside Starc. But this time Starc overshadowed him and is leading the wicket-takers list with 24 scalps ahead of second-placed Lockie Ferguson of New Zealand, with 17. “He’s (Starc) six foot seven, bowls 157kph and swings it both ways! He’s a classy bowler. He was used very nicely with short spells to be aggressive. He’s had a stellar campaign so far,” the Kiwi left-arm pacer said.
Boult, however, said it was special to grab a hat-trick at the ‘Home of Cricket’, his second in ODI cricket.
“It would have been nice if it was in the first over but any bowler dreams of getting three wickets in a row. To do it at the ‘Home of Cricket’ in front of a good crowd against Australia was pretty cool,” he said.
“It’s a pretty simple game plan. I wanted to disturb the woodwork and it was nice to see the stumps light up. It was a bit of entertainment for the crowd.”
He said New Zealand let Australia off the hook on Saturday.
“To have them 90 for five and let them get over 200 was frustrating. If we had kept them under 200, then it’s a whole different ball game,” he said.
New Zealand have now suffered two successive defeats, against Pakistan and Australia, and face England in their final group match on Wednesday, a match that could yet decide who makes the final four.
“We need to win the last one. It will be a big one for England and they will be hungry it’s certainly not panic stations. The bowling plans work well against any side so there won’t be much reinvention,” Boult signed off. (AGENCIES)
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