South Africa Champions registered their first win of the ongoing World Championship of Legends 2024. Despite setting a target of 211 with help of Sharjeel Khan and Shoaib Malik's half-centuries, Pakistan suffered their first defeat of the tournament. Sarel Erwee's unbeaten 105 and Jacques Snyman's unbeaten 47-ball 82 helped South Africa chased down the target with nine wickets in hand and as many balls to spare.
Pakistan post daunting total
South Africa Champions skipper Jacques Kallis won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pakistan got off to a poor start. Kamran Akmal lost his wicket to Vernon Philander in the fourth over. Sharjeel Khan shrugged off slow start and hit Charles Langeveldt for a couple of fours and sixes. In the next over, he hit Rory Kleinveldt for three consecutive fours. Sharjeel continued to hit big and reached his fifty from 27 balls in the ninth over. Langeveldt came back into the attack and dismissed Sohaib Maqsood who contributed with a run-a-ball 24. In the same over, Shahid Afridi hit him for a six and two fours.
Tahir continued his economical spell. He conceded a six before getting rid of Sharjeel. The opener's 36-ball 72 was laced with seven fours and six sixes. Afridi's cameo was ended by Dale Steyn. Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan cross the 200-run mark. In the final over, Malik hit Kleinveldt two fours and as many sixes. He reached his half-century from just 25 balls and took Pakistan Champions' score to 210/4.
Erwee breaks free in middle overs
In the run chase, Jean-Paul Duminy fell to Sohail Khan in the third over for a single-digit score. Erwee and Snyman made good use of the fielding restrictions. South Africa champions were 65/1 after powerplay overs. At the halfway stage, they were 99/1. Erwee hit Malik for three consecutive sixes to reach his half-century from 28 balls. He took on Sohail as well and hit him for three fours and a six. Snyman in the 14th over reached his half-century with a six off Afridi.
Easy run chase
The onslaught continued. Wahab Riaz got injured in the 17th over to make matters worse. Erwee reached his century with a boundary in the 17th over. He took 50 balls to reach three figures. In the penultimate over, Snyman smashed Aamer Yamin for two consecutive sixes to finish the run chase in style. They shared an unbeaten 197-run partnership for the second wicket. Snyman's 47-ball 82 included six fours and five sixes whereas Erwee smashed 11 fours and six sixes in his 105-run knock.
South Africa alive in semifinal race
While Pakistan have already qualified for the semifinal, South Africa need a win in their last league stage game to reach last four. They will face India Champions on July 10.
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