33rd over: South Africa 150-4 (van der Dussen 20, Miller 10) Miller, on the run, drives Imad’s first delivery over the top for four. Imad finishes a useful spell with figures of 10-0-48-0, and South Africa are running out of time. They need 159 from 17 overs.
“Dear Rob,” writes Renuka Dhinakaran. “My poor husband Anand, a frequent OBO commentator, has gone through a day of Lego workshop and gym show week with our kid while the Pak v SA match has been happening. He didn’t snarl as he usually would have and I’m grateful to OBO for that. This also seems to be a good time and place to tell him that he has to take the trash out.”
32nd over: South Africa 143-4 (van der Dussen 19, Miller 4) Mohammad Amir drops Miller off his own bowling! He clasped the ball in his right hand but it fell out when his elbow hit the ground. That would have put him out on his own as the leading wickettaker in the tournament.
He has a big appeal for caught behind turned down later in the over when Miller tries to hook. Amir is desperate to review but Sarfaraz turns him down; both have apparently forgotten that Pakistan have already used their review. Not that it matters - there was nothing on Ultra Edge.
31st over: South Africa 140-4 (van der Dussen 18, Miller 2) “Who has been the most frustrating cricketer to watch this World Cup?” says Tuvic Tuslow. “For me, it’s Markram; he’s the Proteas James Vince - looks perennially good, but gets out too soon, too often.”
I think the James Vince Award for most frustrating cricketer at any tournament should go to James Vince, even when he’s not playing.
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30th over: South Africa 138-4 (van der Dussen 17, Miller 1) “Hi Rob,” says Jon Salisbury. “Am I not getting something or are these ‘phases won’ stats (like the day’s pie-charts for Tests) a useless gimmick; subjective at best and shows no real feel for the game.”
I’m not a fan, but I suspect they enhance the viewing experience for millions so I’m loath to go the full Bill Murray on them.
WICKET! South Africa 136-4 (du Plessis c Sarfaraz b Amir 63)
Mohammad Amir is wonderful. Pakistan needed a wicket; he delivered it with the third ball of a new spell. du Plessis clouted a cross-seam delivery miles in the air, and Sarfaraz waved everyone away before taking the catch. Amir has his 15th wicket of the tournament, a spectacular personal performance in a hitherto losing team.
Sarfaraz catches out Du Plessis. Photograph: Nigel French/PA
29th over: South Africa 133-3 (du Plessis 61, van der Dussen 15) South Africa need 176 from 21 overs. Hmm.
“Although she’s proudly Australian, and tribal, Ashleigh Barty’s also one of our own,” says John Starbuck. “Some of her family (on her Mum’s side) are still in Nottingham and she played for quite a while at the West Bridgford Tennis Club, not far from Trent Bridge. Well done her!”
28th over: South Africa 130-3 (du Plessis 60, van der Dussen 13) van der Dussen spanks Shadab straight back over his head, and the ball just evades the stretching Amir as he runs round the boundary. To compound Mickey Arthur’s visible frustration, the ball bounces up onto Amir and over the boundary for four. du Plessis completes a good over for South Africa – 12 from it – with a lusty slog sweep for four.
27th over: South Africa 118-3 (du Plessis 55, van der Dussen 6) Still no boundaries for South Africa – the last was in the 19th over – but they are at least in a rhythm of scoring from most deliveries. It might be time to bring back Mohammad Amir for a couple of overs.
26th over: South Africa 112-3 (du Plessis 51, van der Dussen 4) The captain du Plessis drives Shadab for a single to reach a dogged fifty from 66 balls. There’s a single from every delivery in that over.
Du Plessis celebrates his half century. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
25th over: South Africa 106-3 (du Plessis 48, van der Dussen 1) Pakistan are squeezing the life out of South Africa. The last six overs, all bowled by Shadab and Imad, have brought two wickets and only 16 runs.
REVIEW! South Africa 105-3 (du Plessis not out 47)
Well, that was odd. du Plessis tried to force Imad off the back foot, prompting a huge appeal for caught behind from Sarfaraz and then an instant review. But there was nothing on Ultra Edge, so du Plessis survives.
24th over: South Africa 103-3 (du Plessis 46, van der Dussen 0) A wicket maiden from Shadab, and this has has the feel of a matchwinning spell from Shadab: 5-1-17-2.
Markram has gone, cleaned up by a lovely flipper from Shadab. It may have kept a little low, too, and Markram was left looking pretty silly as he tried to cut a ball that skidded on to hit the stumps.
Pakistan celebrate as Markram walks for seven. Photograph: Graham Hunt/ProSports/Shutterstock
23rd over: South Africa 103-2 (du Plessis 46, Markram 7) A slightly better over for South Africa, but still only five from it. Faf du Plessis hasn’t hit a boundary since the 12th over.
22nd over: South Africa 98-2 (du Plessis 43, Markram 5) Just three singles from the over again, this time Shadab the bowler. South Africa need 211 from 28 overs, and you would be unwise to stake your mortgage on them.
21st over: South Africa 95-2 (du Plessis 42, Markram 3) Imad Wasim returns, a logical tactic with a new batsman at the crease. Sarfaraz will want him and Shadab to hurry through a few cheap overs, the old Combined Universities 1989 tactic. Three singles from the over.
WICKET! South Africa 91-2 (de Kock c Imam b Shadab 47)
This a huge wicket for Pakistan. de Kock slog-sweeps Shadab high towards deep square leg, where Imam-ul-Haq takes an excellent low catch as the ball dips sharply. The umpires went upstairs to check the catch, but it was fine and de Kock has gone.
Imam celebrates with teammate and captain Sarfaraz after taking a catch to dismiss De Kock for 47. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
19th over: South Africa 90-1 (de Kock 47, du Plessis 40) Punishing stuff from de Kock, who squirts Wahab for four and then picks him up over long leg for a big six.
18th over: South Africa 77-1 (de Kock 36, du Plessis 38) de Kock swings Shadab on the bounce to the man at deep midwicket. That brings one of four singles from another quiet over. The required rate has sneaked up to 7.25 per over.
17th over: South Africa 73-1 (de Kock 34, du Plessis 36) de Kock has a windy woof at Wahab, who is working up a decent pace. He rams a couple of bouncers over the head of de Kock, who then swings freely over midwicket for a single. That’s drinks.
16th over: South Africa 70-1 (de Kock 32, du Plessis 35) Quinton de Kock slog-sweeps the new bowler Shadab Khan emphatically forsix. He is looking ominous; after scoring 12 from his first 32 deliveries, he’s added 20 from the last 15.
De Kock hits six off Khan. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
14th over: South Africa 59-1 (de Kock 23, du Plessis 33) de Kock drives Imad handsomely over extra cover for four. Imad responds excellently and almost dismisses du Plessis on three occasions: a checked drive fell just short of the bowler, and two deliveries from around the wicket almost sneaked between bat and pad.
“In other news,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “part-time excellent cricket player, full-time amazing tennis player Ashleigh Barty is the new world No1 after winning the Birmingham title. Congratulations!”
And the best thing is she reads the OBO religiously, so your message will get through.
13th over: South Africa 53-1 (de Kock 18, du Plessis 32)Wahab replaces Afridi (4-0-18-0), starting with a zestful over that goes for a couple. South Africa need 6.91 per over.
12th over: South Africa 51-1 (de Kock 17, du Plessis 31)Quinton de Kock gets his first boundary in the 12th over, driving Imad Wasim through extra cover for four. This is a good spell for South Africa. It’s time, I suspect, for a bit of Wahab Riaz.
“Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “I know he was a very naughty boy - though I always thought his punishment was at the upper limit of reasonable - but seeing Amir and his mojo back in harness is probably the greatest single, context-free delight of this World Cup to date. Who knows, despite the lost years perhaps he can do an Anderson over the next decade. It’d be lovely to see him get to play in the final.”
11th over: South Africa 44-1 (de Kock 12, du Plessis 29)When Afridi gets his line and length right – just full of good, inviting the drive without enabling it – he looks pretty threatening. But he’s a little erratic, as 19-year-olds are wont to be; when he bowls one delivery a touch too straight, du Plessis flicks wristily through midwicket for four more.
Du Plessis hits Afridi for four. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/BPI/Shutterstock
10th over: South Africa 38-1 (de Kock 11, du Plessis 24)Looks like the post has been delayed. The left-arm spinner Imad Wasim is coming into the attack, which should mean a bit of respite for South Africa. du Plessis, on the walk, crunches a boundary down the ground.
9th over: South Africa 32-1 (de Kock 10, du Plessis 19) du Plessis is dropped! He edged a drive off Shaheen to the left of backward point, where Shadab Khan flew like a goalkeeper but was unable to hang on. That would have been a great catch. Both these batsmen have now been given a life. Often that’s a positive for a batting team, but at the moment it feels like another wicket is in the post.
8th over: South Africa 31-1 (de Kock 10, du Plessis 18) du Plessis, on the drive, edges Amir wide of the only slip at catchable height. It’s been a top-class opening spell from Amir: 4-1-9-1.
7th over: South Africa 28-1 (de Kock 9, du Plessis 17) Shaheen Afridi beats du Plessis with a beautiful delivery – just full of a good length and moving enough off the seam to beat the edge. He’s only 19 but has the tools to be a great. Mind you, I always thought that about Steven Finn. A good over from Shaheen; three from it.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Brian Withington. “There was I robustly condemning a complete waste of Pakistan’s review loudly enough for anyone listening out in the kitchen. Cue pause and pregnant silence, broken only by a polite query from the distance ‘You wouldn’t have made a mistake by any chance, would you, father?’ Not for the first time, I am left to contemplate the vagaries of my certain opinion.”
I remember loudly bemoaning David Elleray’s decision to send off Roy Keane against Manchester City in 2001. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the replay.
6th over: South Africa 26-1 (de Kock 7, du Plessis 15) de Kock is beaten again, this time by some sharp seam movement from the superb Amir. He gets hold of a back-foot drive later in the over, and Fakhar makes a fine diving stop to save three runs.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “My head is beginning to hurt regarding the possible permutations for the remaining group matches and who needs to do what to qualify. Thankfully we have the OBO to make it all really simple. Now, here’s my question. I have tickets to see Pakistan v Bangladesh at Lord’s on 5 July. What are the chances that it will be a winner-takes-all match for the final qualification place, perhaps leading to scenes reminiscent of Northampton in 1999?”
Well, it’s possible, but England would have to make a rare mess of their last three matches. Dare to dream.
5th over: South Africa 23-1 (de Kock 6, du Plessis 14) Shaheen Afridi replaces Mohammad Hafeez. His first ball is angled across du Plessis, who is lucky to inside-edge a leaden-footed drive past the stumps for four. There is no luck involved off the last delivery, however, which du Plessis thumps through extra cover for four.
Du Plessis strikes for four. Photograph: Nigel French/PA
4th over: South Africa 15-1 (de Kock 6, du Plessis 6) The world is a better place when Mohammad Amir is on a roll. Nobody in world cricket has quite the same combination of skill and haal, bitter and sweet. He swerves a fine delivery past the edge of de Kock, who can’t get any of the subsequent deliveries past the infield. A maiden.
“Hello Rob from Kampala Uganda,” writes Vali Jamal. “I delayed eating my lunch to coincide the one at the match. What do they serve? Curries? CTM? Biryani? Amla and Tahir would love that. Or are the British still chaffy about spice smells? Myself I made do with a spiced omelette from the street.”
I have no idea what they’re serving at Lord’s, though Adam may be able to enlighten us. At Guardian Towers we’re having the usual: vegan foie gras with a side of moral superiority.
3rd over: South Africa 15-1 (de Kock 6, du Plessis 6) Hafeez continues, with an unspoken invitation to de Kock to try his luck hitting over the top. He politely declines the invitation for now, but he does feather a classy cover drive for three.
2nd over: South Africa 8-1 (de Kock 1, du Plessis 4) The new batsman Faf du Plessis survives another huge LBW appeal after being hit in the box by a big inswinger. That was definitely missing, but it has been a majestic start from Mohammad Amir. From the end of the 2017 Champions Trophy to the start of this World Cup, he took five wickets in 15 ODIs at an average of 93. In this tournament he’s taken 14 in five matches at an average of 12. Pick that one out!
What a brilliant review from Pakistan! I was sure that was missing leg stump - or at best hitting the outside of it - but Amir was insistent and replays showed why. The ball pitched on middle and leg and straightened sharply to hit Amla on the pad as he flicked across the line. It was hitting the meat of leg stump, and so the in-form Amir strikes with his first ball.
Amir celebrates with teammates after taking Amla LBW for two. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Amla 2, de Kock 1) de Kock is droppedoff his first delivery! He dragged Hafeez towards mid-on, where Wahab muffed an awkward low chance as he dived forward. It was an, a-hem, ambitious shot from de Kock, who came charging down the track straight away, and he was lucky to get away with it.
Wahab drops De Kock. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
Thanks Adam, hello everyone. It’s an immutable law of Pakistan cricket that, before they can win a major trophy in a blaze of glory, they must first take in the view from the precipice. They must be on the brink of elimination halfway through the first round, ideally after being thumped by India. It happened at the 1992 World Cup, the 2009 World T20 and the 2017 Champions Trophy, so perhaps this is the start of another sequel, Cornered Tigers 4: For The Haal Of It.
Pakistan are ninth in the table, above only Afghanistan. But if they win their last four matches in the league stage – New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are the others – they will reach 11 points. They’d still need a favour from elsewhere, but then that was the case in 1992. It’s on!
Set up beautifully. With both sides having periods in the ascendancy though the 50 overs, both will go into lunch feeling as though they have done plenty right. It sets us up for a fantastic chase on a true Lord’s wicket in front of a very enthusiastic packed house. What more could you want in a World Cup Sunday? For that I’ll leave you with the great Rob Smyth. Thanks for your emails! Bye!
Nearly a run out from the last ball, Shadhab unable to heave Ngidi outside the circle, but the throw isn’t on target and the bowler knocks the bails off with his hand. All told, a solid finish for South Africa, giving up just four in the final over and 21 across the last three. But that takes nothing away from Sohail who along with Imad really did put the foot down through the final stanza.
Pakistan fans celebrate as they watch their team score 308. Photograph: Jed Leicester/Getty Images
WICKET! Sohail c de Kock b Ngidi 89 (Pakistan 307-7)
Fine death bowling, this. Ngidi gave Sohail nothing to hit so he made room to try and make something from nothing, a top edge going high in the air to de Kock. The end of a fantastic innings, his 89 coming in 59 balls, three times clearing the ropes. One ball to come.
49th over: Pakistan 304-5 (Sohail 88, Wahab 4) Wahab walks out to join Sohail, another man who can hit the ball a very long way as we saw a couple of weeks ago against Australia. Rabada lands his yorker first up, Wahab squeezing two out to midwicket. From the next, another on the crease line, they take the quick single instead so that Sohail can get a pop. But he’s also kept at home base by the yorker, having to give the strike back to Wahab. Excellent over, this. Wahab’s single to third man gets Pakistan to 300, a score they would have taken an hour ago, I reckon. A bumper nearly nails Sohail from the penultimate ball - more fine fast bowling. He has one more chance against Rabada and does make solid contact, clipped out to midwicket for four. Nine off it. Ngidi now to bowl the 50th over.
A solid death over from Ngidi, who mixed up his slower balls and won a miscue from Imad, well taken from Duminy running in from long-off. He did get him away for four down the ground back over the head of the umpire from the previous delivery, but South Africa will take eight runs and a wicket from the 48th.
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