Birmingham: After losing their second match on the trot on Monday and seeing India defeat West Indies on Tuesday, Pakistan have been knocked out of the Champions Trophy.
Prolific batsman Hashim Amla (81) hit a splendid half-century before Ryan McLaren took four wickets as South Africa mauled Pakistan by 67 runs to keep themselves in the race for the semifinals, here.
Pakistan’s bowlers did a fantastic job by restricting South Africa to 234/9, which was built around Hamla’s knock and small contributions from Faf du Plessis (28), skipper AB de Villiers (31) and JP Duminy (24).
Pakistani batsmen, though, could not compliment the good job done by their bowlers as they failed to apply themselves under challenging conditions.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (55) and opener Nasir Jamshed (42) were the only ones, who showed intent to resist the Proteas as Pakistan were all out for 167 in 45 overs.
It was second successive batting failure for Pakistan, after losing to the Windies in their first game, and they are at the bottom of Group B with no hope of qualifying for the semis.
India have become the first team from the group to make it through, with the Proteas and West Indies to fight it out for the second and final spot.
Stroke-making was difficult since the Edgbaston wicket assisted pacers as well as spinners.
MacLaren emerged as the highest wicket-taker for South Africa with figures of 8-3-19-4 but it was young paceman Chris Morris (2/25) together with Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2/23) who built pressure and strangled the Pakistan innings early on.
Such was the domination of bowlers that Pakistan scored just 36 runs in first 15 overs. (PTI)
Brief scores:
South Africa: 234/9 in 50 overs (H Amla 81, AB de Villiers 31; M Irfan 1/27, S Malik 1/27)
Pakistan: 167 all out in 45 overs (Misbah 55, N Jamshed 42; R McLaren 4/19, L Tsotsobe 2/23)