Haris Sohail hammered nine boundaries and three sixes during his knock of 89

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan batsman Haris Sohail smashed a 59-ball 89 to help his side take down South Africa by 49 runs in their World Cup clash at Lord’s.

Pakistan’s victory saw them keep their hopes of qualifying for World Cup semi-finals alive, but it was the end of the road for South Africa, who now have no chance of making it to the last four.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan got off to a great start as openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq amassed an 81-run partnership before Zaman was dismissed by Imran Tahir for 44.

Imam also made 44 before he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Tahir.

Mohammad Hafeez mustered 20 runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Aiden Markram.

Babar Azam and Haris stabilised the innings with an 81-run partnership, during which Azam brought up his fifty, before he was caught by Lungi Ngidi at deep extra cover off the bowling of Andile Phehlukway for 69, which came off 80 balls and included seven boundaries.

Haris and Imad Wasim added 71 runs to the score, during which Haris surpassed his half-century, before Imad was sent packing by Ngidi for 23.

Wahab only made four runs before he was clean bowled by Ngidi, but with Haris going on to score a 59-ball 89, which included nine boundaries and three sixes, Pakistan finished on 308/7.

Ngidi was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Tahir snapped up two, and Markram and Phehlukwayo chipped in with one.

Chasing 309 to win, South Africa were dealt a big blow on the seventh ball of their innings as opener Hashim Amla was trapped lbw off the bowling of Mohammad Amir for two runs.

Quinton de Kock and captain Faf du Plessis made up for the loss of Amla with an 87-run partnership before De Kock was caught by Imam at deep midwicket off the bowling of Shadab Khan for 47.

Markram only scored seven runs before he was clean bowled by Shadab, while Du Plessis ended up making a 79-ball 63, which included five boundaries, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Amir.

Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller steadied things with a 53-run partnership before Van der Dussen was removed by Shadab for 36.

Miller went on to make 31 before he was cleaned up by Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Morris was clean bowled by Wahab Riaz for 16.

Wahab then cleaned up Kagiso Rabada and Ngidi as South Africa finished on 259/9.

Phehlukwayo remained undefeated on 46, which came off 32 balls and included six boundaries.

Shadab and Wahab took three wickets apiece, while Amir got two and Afridi claimed one.

Haris was named Man of the Match.