Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq, who is often blamed for his slow approach to game, showed that he can be an attacking skipper when situation demands. In the crucial game against South Africa, the 40-year-old was seen adopting a carefree approach, which helped the sub-continent nation stun the one of the favourites by 29 runs.
Misbah always maintained that his fast bowlers are the potent weapon in this World Cup. On Saturday it reflected in their performance as their pacers surprised the otherwise comfortable South Africans with some pace and bounce.
“We are also looking at our strengths. We know that we've got a bowling attack where if we cross 250, no team in the world is just [going to] relax chasing that 250,” said Misbah.
He also realised that the South Africa’s attacking brand of cricket, would only help Pakistan and that they could counter their some hard hitting batsmen with the quartet of fast bowlers.
“We are confident that we've got a bowling attack that can really put them under pressure,” he added.
As South Africa was set a chase of 232 in a rain curtailed match, Misbah rotated the bowlers intelligently and set attacking fields with catchers close around the bat, which bore results as Pakistan picked up wickets at regular intervals.
Eden Park came to life in the very first over when Mohammed Irfan quite easily pried out Quniton de Kock, and even as Hashim Amla expertly skewered the field for eye-catching boundaries, Misbah stayed on the offensive.
As 38 runs were scorched in three overs, Misbah continued to push for wickets. He had quickly realised that there can be no “defence” of a low total.
Faf du Plessis and Amla departed soon after nibbling at deliveries, which was leaving the bat.
The onus was on AB de Villiers to see the Proteas through. Even though the lower-order batsmen flirted with danger and getting boundary in the process, Misbah continued to keep the field up.
Dale Steyn, tired his luck once too often, before he was dismissed by Irfan for 16.
A happy Waqar Younis too believed that it was the combination of attacking captaincy and right combination that has helped Pakistan gain some much-needed momentum in the World Cup.
“Pakistan has started finding the right combination, people have started believing in themselves, players have started trusting their abilities. That was the key.
“And more importantly Misbah backed his rarely put to use aggressive instincts. And it paid off handsomely. No one can blame him after such a performance,” said Younis.
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