After getting off to a great start thanks to Kamran Akmal (23 off 12) and then Shahid Afridi (51 off 34), Pakistan were set for a total of 170 upwards. This did not happen as the South African bowlers, Parnell and Steyn in particular, reined Pakistan in, conceding just 29 runs off the last 5 overs. One thing Younis Khan could have done is send in Misbah Ul-Haq instead of himself as coming to the crease in the 13th over, Younis hit just one boundary in his innings of 24. Even sending Misbah in ahead of the rusty Razzaq would have been a good option. It was good that they sent Afridi at three yet this is one other place in which they could have been flexible with the line up. Misbah has a unique ability of finding the boundary from full pitched balls, something Younis and Razzaq struggled with.

We mustn’t underestimate the contribution of Shoiab Malik’s batting also. If you have a look at most decent Twenty20 totals, you will see they include at least one innings of 30+ which is around the run a ball rate. It’s a kind of stabiliser to the fast paced innings this form of the game requires in order for a large total to be set. Today that was the innings of Malik. More important was the fact that he was there during Afridi’s innings. Malik is an intelligent cricketer and in the interview he spoke of how he kept encouraging Afridi to try to preserve his wicket but still play positive. He was good in the field once again and took a brilliant pressure catch for the wicket of Jacques Kallis.

As for the bowling, we gave a few runs early on once again but then came the man of the moment, Shahid Khan Afridi. Getting AB Devilliers was vital as he has been the key to South Africa’s performances with the bat and thus this was a critical moment in the match. Umar Gul once again stepped up and produced his laser guided yorkers (Note to Daniel Vettori: He doesn’t really use lasers, it’s an expression of his skill). Anyone who’s bowled a ball in their life must know how difficult it is to bowl yorker length at all but Gul was doing it ball after ball.

A couple of Younis’ decisions in the field were quite surprising though. Firstly, he gave Fawad Alam an over in which he conceded 15 and gave South Africa hope, when Alam hadn’t bowled before and when Younis still had the likes of Malik, Razzaq and Aamer to call upon. It was obvious he wanted to get that one over (the 15th) out of the way to be able to finish with Gul and Ajmal from each end. The strange thing was that when Fawad had finished, Younis gave the ball to Ajmal in the 16th over meaning that Gul would not be able to bowl his full quota. This meant that it would be either Fawad, Malik, Razzaq or Aamer who would bowl the last over with South Africa needing 23. In typical and unique Pakistani style, they give the last over to a 17 year old and he doesn’t disappoint.

Though we have some improvements to make before the final, the scary thing is that Razzaq didn’t even fire with ball or bat and our best Twenty20 batsmen, Misbah, didn’t get to come in at all.

Billed to be a clash between man and machine, I know I rather have human skill than mechanical efficiency when it comes to the art of cricket…whichever form.

Last but not least, kudos to the Indian fan who was going around Trent Bridge with his Indian shirt on giving high fives to the Pakistan supporters; great stuff!