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Boucher, Kemp and Ntini help SA storm into the
Semis |
October 27, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 It
is South Africa who have come out as the winners
of the virtual Quarter Final against Pakistan at
Mohali today to join New Zealand and West Indies
as the third Semi-Finalist. Pakistan were
bundled out for just 89 in 25 overs in reply to
South Africa’s 213 for 8 handing them a massive
124-run victory. It was a seaming wicket all
through the match at the PCA Stadium as the
curator left plenty of grass on the surface.
Makhaya Ntini was the chief tormentor under the
lights capturing his fourth five-wicket haul.
The wicket was tailor-made for the likes of
Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and others.
South Africa had won the toss and had elected to
bat first and the decision looked fine until the
first over was gone by which was bowled by Umar
Gul. It was a cloudy day at Mohali too that also
played its part in helping the ball to dart
around, making life tough for the batsmen. The
first over saw Graeme Smith and Herschell Gibbs
depart. Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar Anjum had been
bowling with a good seam position and the
wickets went down in a hurry and the Proteas
were down and out at 42 for 5 in the 13th over.
The match itself looked to get over by the
dinner break as it did not look as if South
Africa would get beyond a hundred! But a
match-winning partnership between Mark Boucher
and Justin Kemp, worth 131 runs got SA into a
good looking position and in the end a total of
213 for 8. Mark Boucher top scored with 69 that
had come in 98 balls with 7 fours. Justin Kemp
who also provided some fireworks in the final
overs made 64 from 110 balls which had 4 fours
and 2 sixes. Umar Gul was the chief destroyer
picking up three for 37 in 8 overs while his new
ball partner, Rao Iftikhar took 2 for 26 in 10
overs.
In reply, Pakistan lost wickets in a hurry as
the batsmen couldn’t handle the pace and bounce
from Makhaya Ntini who finished with 5 for 21 in
just 6 overs. Shaun Pollock took a couple of
wickets and Charl Langeveldt who was playing his
first match of the tournament picked up three
wickets. The top scorer for Pak was Yasir Arafat
with 27. The only other batsman to get into
double figures was Shahid Afridi who got 14.
Pakistan at one stage were at 47 for 8 in the
15th over itself and a better figure of 89 all
out was thanks to a 30-run partnership between
Yasir Arafat and Umar Gul. The Man of the Match
award was given for the hostile Makhaya Ntini.
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