Umar leads Pakistan recovery against South Africa

**sheem** · 10-05-2010, 10:12 PM

Umar leads Pakistan recovery against South Africa

GROS ISLET: Umar Akmal struck 51 from 33 balls as Pakistan recovered from a poor start to make 148 for seven after captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in their World Twenty20 game on Monday.

On a slow track, Pakistan struggled throughout the ''power play'' overs stumbling to 19 for three at the end of the six overs of field restrictions.

Umar and his brother Kamran Akmal (32) then put on a 51-run partnership that got Pakistan''s momentum going.

After Kamran departed, skipper Shahid Afridi (30 from 18) contributed to a 61-run partnership in just 5.3 overs.

For South Africa, Charl Langeveldt made the important breakthroughs taking 4-19 from his four overs.

The defending champions made one change from the side beaten by one run by New Zealand in Barbados on Saturday, with spin-bowling all-rounder Khalid Latif replacing fast bowler Mohammad Sami.

South Africa, who lost by 39 runs to England in Barbados on Saturday, also made one change with left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe replacing fast bowler Morne Morkel.

Pakistan have lost their opening two games in the three-match Super Eight stage while South Africa have one victory giving them two points and a chance to make the
semi-finals with a win.

Pakistan had to win this match to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals, although they also needed England beat New Zealand in the final Group E match later here on Monday.

Victory for South Africa would guarantee England''s place in the semi-finals but leave the Proteas needing England to beat New Zealand to advance into the last four.

If New Zealand win, South Africa would most likely be out, unless they beat Pakistan by a huge margin and New Zealand only win narrowly.

Teams
Pakistan:Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (captain), Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Khalid Latif Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher (wkt), Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Roelof van der Merwe, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt.