Pakistan Champions’ Shoaib Malik (centre) celebrates taking a wicket with teammates throughout their World Championship of Legends match in Northampton. — Instagram@wclpakistanchampions
Pakistan Champions registered their second consecutive victory within the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, defeating South Africa Champions by 31 runs on Friday at Grace Street.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a formidable whole of 198-5 of their allotted 20 overs.
Openers Sharjeel Khan and Kamran Akmal supplied a brisk begin, with Sharjeel scoring 19 off 11 deliveries, together with three boundaries and a six, earlier than falling to Hardus Viljoen within the third over.
Kamran Akmal adopted quickly after, dismissed for 17 off 11 balls within the closing over of the powerplay by Duanne Olivier, leaving Pakistan at 54-2.
Skipper Mohammad Hafeez could not make a major impression both, scoring simply eight runs earlier than being eliminated at 76-3 in 8.1 overs.
The innings was then stabilised by a vital 79-run partnership between Shoaib Malik and Umar Amin.
Amin performed a pivotal knock, registering 58 off 42 balls with 4 fours and three sixes, anchoring the center overs. He was dismissed within the seventeenth over, leaving Pakistan at 155-4.
Asif Ali added useful runs on the demise, smashing 23 off simply 11 deliveries, together with two sixes and two fours.
Aamer Yamin chipped in with an unbeaten 11, whereas Malik remained not out on a composed 46 off 34 balls, guiding Pakistan to a aggressive whole.
For South Africa, Duanne Olivier picked up two wickets, whereas Hardus Viljoen, Wayne Parnell, and JP Duminy claimed one every.
In reply, South Africa Champions have been restricted to 167-9, regardless of a promising begin with 13 runs coming within the opening over bowled by Rumman Raees.
Nevertheless, momentum shifted within the third over when JJ Smuts was dismissed for 10 by Rumman, with the rating at 18-1.
Sohail Tanvir struck subsequent, eradicating Henry Davids for six, adopted by the dismissal of Hashim Amla (12 off 18) by Sohail Khan, as South Africa stumbled to 42-3 in 7.3 overs.
Within the very subsequent over, Sarel Erwee (12) was trapped LBW by Mohammad Hafeez, who went on to assert his second wicket by dismissing Jacques Rudolph (10), leaving the Proteas in serious trouble at 58-5.
Malik additional dented South Africa’s chase by eradicating JP Duminy (11), earlier than debutant Imad Wasim claimed his maiden wicket by dismissing stand-in skipper Aaron Phangiso (13), decreasing the facet to 93-7 in 15 overs.
Wayne Parnell confirmed resistance with a quickfire 21 off 9 balls however was bowled by Wahab Riaz. Morne van Wyk performed a lone hand, remaining unbeaten on 44 off 20 deliveries, however lacked assist from the opposite finish.
Chris Morris scored 10 runs earlier than being dismissed by Tanvir within the closing over, sealing the win for Pakistan.
For the Males in Inexperienced,Tanvir and Hafeez claimed two wickets every, whereas Raees, Imad, Sohail Khan, Malik, and Riaz picked up one wicket apiece.
It’s pertinent to say that the Hafeez-led Pakistan facet will face the West Indies Champions of their subsequent match on Saturday at Headingley.
