Wasim Akram says SA vs AUS low-scoring semi-final was the ‘match of the tournament’ | Cricket-world-cup News
Pat Cummins cut a short ball from Marco Jansen towards the point region for a boundary to take Australia to another nail-biting win against South Africa in World Cups. It was a low-scoring affair with wickets falling at regular intervals and the tension in the stadium was quite palpable. Former Pakan cricketer Wasim Akram would say it was a “match of the tournament”.
“For me, this was the match of the tournament. It was different and fun,” Akram said speaking on ASports. The surface helped as it was turning and gripping. South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabriz Shamsi looked unplayable at times while defending a small total. “It was easy for bowlers it is always fun to watch,” the former Pakan skipper would add.
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On a testing turner, David Miller absorbed extreme pressure on his way to a rearguard 101 and took South Africa to a fighting 212 after losing their first four wickets for 24 runs in the second semifinal. It was a below-par total but the Proteas did make a match out of it with a spirited bowling effort before Australia, as they often do, held their nerve to close out the game in 47.2 overs.Most Read
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Akram also took a dig at commentators on their pitch report. “Commentators and colleagues have given opposite pitch reports which a normal person cannot understand. They said win the toss easy wicket get to 300 win the game.”
“Going to be tough to score runs as the spinners will get more assance in the second innings. Captain winning the toss should bat first despite the overcast conditions,” reckoned broadcaster Pommie Mbangwa in his pitch report.
Temba Bavuma did exactly that after winning the toss. However, moure in the surface helped Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood to get plenty out of the surface and put South African top-order batters in all sorts of trouble.
