Sarfraz promises no letups after SA win

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed Thursday promised no let-ups in the final match against Sri Lanka after upsetting the world number one South Africa to keep their hopes alive in the Champions trophy.

A boosted up Pakistan team reached Cardiff on Thursday afternoon, with replacement bowler Rumman Raees also joining the team in time for Monday’s game.

How a win changes a team was evident from the bunch of players who, after a 124-run thrashing from India in the first game, lifted their game as required.

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“I think the difference was our bowling and fielding in which we were below par against India,” said Sarfraz, whose team overcame South Africa by 19 runs on Duckworth-Lewis formula after rain abandoned the game.

Pakistan, chasing a modest 220, were 119-3, 19 runs above par score on D-L method.

“We have to keep this momentum because Group B is now a quarter-final,” said Sarfraz of the Group which after Sri Lanka’s win over India at The Oval is now wide open.

The winner of South Africa-India clash on Sunday will go through to the last four while one from Pakistan and Sri Lanka will join in the semis.

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Sarfraz hoped Pakistan get enough time to practice with rain threatening their work at Cardiff.

“Actually we did no fielding at all. We had rain the other day, so actually we did nothing. So hopefully we will get time to do our drills as Sri lanka is not an easy team,” said Sarfraz.