PICS: Pakistan keep semis hopes alive after SA rout

Images from Sunday's World Cup match between Pakistan and South Africa, at Lord's.

- SCORECARD

Pakistan kept alive their slender hopes of making the semi-finals of the World Cup by trouncing South Africa by 49 runs, at Lord’s, on Sunday.

Batting first, the 1992 champions posted 308 for 7, powered by Haris Sohail's 59-ball 89, the cornerstone of their innings.

In reply, South Africa could only muster 259 for nine in 50 overs.

With just three points from seven outings, South Africa are out of semi-final reckoning while Pakistan can still sneak into the semi-finals, provided they win their remaining matches and other results go in their favour.

Chasing 309, South Africa began on a poor note, losing Hashim Amla (2) in the second over.

There was swing straightaway for Mohammad Amir and even though the Pakistan pace spearhead's big appeal for an LBW could not impress the umpire, Hawkeye showed the ball would have hit the stumps, giving him a wicket off his first ball.

Skipper Faf du Plessis (63 off 79 balls) joined Quinton de Kock (47 off 60) early and the duo shared 87 runs for the second wicket to keep South Africa in the game.

De Kock fell three short of a fifty, and the Proteas lost two more wickets after that, giving Pakistan the upper hand.

A 53-run partnership ensued between Rassie van der Dussen (36) and David Miller (31), but the former got out while trying to hit Shadab Khan against the turn. Miller, who failed to make use of two reprieves, was bowled by Shaheen Afridi to dash whatever little hopes South Africa had at that point.

Later, Andile Phehlukwayo blazed away to 46 off 32 balls with six boundaries.

Shadab (3/50 in 10 overs) and Wahab Riaz (3/46 in 10) were Pakistan's most successful bowlers, while Amir picked up two wickets.

Earlier, batting first, Pakistan were off to their most convincing start in the tournament, the opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq adding 81 runs in just under 15 overs.

Both the openers struck six boundaries each during their stay in the middle but fell for an identical 44.

Fakhar and Imam drove and pulled pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi (3/64) with authority.

Having seen off the South African pace duo without much difficulty, Imam welcomed first-change bowler Chris Morris with a drive through mid-off for a four. Before that Fakhar slogged-swept Ngidi for a six over deep midwicket.

South Africa had their first breakthrough when Imran Tahir (2/41) had Fakhar scooping one to the safe hands of Hashim Amla at first slip.

Tahir went past Allan Donald as the highest wicket-taker for the Proteas at World Cups with 38 wickets when he produced an excellent one-handed catch to dismiss Imam.

Mohammad Hafeez hit a six during his 20 but could not translate his start into a substantial knock thanks to Aiden Markram, who had the batsman trapped in front of the wicket.

Babar Azam oozed class as he worked the ball around for singles and twos in between seven boundaries, but the innings that propped up Pakistan was the one played by Sohail.