I was surprised with the way South Africa fielded against Pakistan: Wasim Jaffer

Pakistan registered a crucial 33-run win via D/L method against South Africa to remain in the race for the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final race. Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan smashed fifty-plus knocks to help Pakistan score a big 185/9 while batting first. Then star pacer Shaheen Afridi took three wickets for 14 to restrict South Africa to 108/9 in a rain-interrupted game at Sydney Cricket Ground.

South Africa started well with big wickets in the powerplay overs as Pakistan were struggling at 43/4 in 6.3 overs. But Iftikhar and Shadab dominated the middle overs with a little help from the Proteas fielders. South Africa, generally a great fielding team, dropped four catches against Pakistan and allowed them to score a huge total. 

I think South Africa's fielding and bowling was way below par: Wasim Jaffer

The former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer was also surprised by South Africa's fielding effort. In a BatBricks7 Run Ki RunNeeti post-match show on CricTracker, Jaffer stated that South Africa's fielding and bowling was way below par against Pakistan.

"I was surprised the way South Africa actually fielded today. They should feel themselves lucky that this was not a must-win game as they still have to play Netherlands in their last game. If this was a must-win game then they would have been under a lot of pressure. But I think their fielding and bowling was way below par and I think they missed Keshav Maharaj," Wasim Jaffer said.

Pakistan made a great comeback from 43/4 to post a huge 185/9 total and were also impressive with their bowling performance after the interruption of the rain. South Africa were given a 73-run target off the last five overs on a D/L method with Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen batting. But Pakistani bowlers allowed South Africa to score only 39 runs in the last five overs.

Jaffer praised Pakistan's all-round performance but also pointed out that they peaked a little bit too late to qualify for the semi-final round. Pakistan boost a positive net run rate but need India to lose their last game against Zimbabwe to progress to the semi-finals. 

"If India and South Africa win their last respective game then they go through. But Pakistan lost two close games and I think they peaked a little bit too late in the tournament," Jaffer added.