Pakistan crush South Africa to reach Hong Kong Sixes semi-finals

MONG KOK: Pakistan beat South Africa by 17 runs to win the Hong Kong International Sixes quarterfinals on Saturday, confirming their place in the final four.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Pakistan’s Muhammad Akhlaq made an incredible half century off 16 deliveries, hitting 2 fours and seven sixes before retiring hurt. Asif Ali, who made a half century of his own against India on Friday, didn’t have the same success against South Africa. He was dismissed for a duck on the first ball he faced, which was a delivery from Evan Jones which ended up in Matthew Boast’s hands. A similar fate befell Faheem Ashraf, who was sent off on the very next delivery, with South Africa skipper JJ Smuts taking the catch this time.

Hussain Talat and Aamer Yamin would put some much-needed runs on the board, bringing Pakistans total to 105, before the later was dismissed on a delivery from Boast which was hit to Smuts for the catch.

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SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS

 South Africa only managed to make 88 runs in their six overs, losing four wickets in the process. The skipper was the first to fall, as Shahab Khan’s delivery collided with his pads before the lbw was given by the umpire. Smuts only managed to score six runs from the one six he slammed.

Jacques Snyman would be dismissed next, as he was bowled in the next over by Aamer Yamin. The South African opener only managed to make five runs, hitting one four off the three balls he faced. Evan Jones and Modiri Litheko would try their best to give South Africa a fighting chance, scoring 41 and 16 runs respectively.

Jones blasted five sixes and 1 four off the 13 balls he faced before he launched the ball into Shahab Khan’s hands off a delivery from Hussain Talat. Talat would dismiss Aubrey Swanepoel for a duck on the very next ball. Boast would score another fifteen runs off six deliveries, but he wouldn’t be enough. South Africa lost by 17 runs.

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All remaining matches in the Hong Kong International Sixes, including the semi-finals and finals, will take place on November 3.