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SYDNEY: South Africa’s David Miller warned on Wednesday they will try to “exploit” Pakistan’s fragile confidence as they aim to clinch a Twenty20 World Cup semi-final and send their opponents packing.
The Proteas were touted as dark horses in the run-up to the showpiece in Australia and showed why with a fearsome pace attack and in-form batsmen.
Ahead of other matches in Group 2 later on Wednesday, they topped the table with two wins from three matches including victory over India. South Africa’s third match was washed out.
In contrast, Pakistan are fifth and their World Cup fate will be sealed if South Africa beat them at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Pakistan’s much-vaunted opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have failed to fire in three matches at the World Cup and are under pressure to find form, and fast.
“I think it’s an area to explore,” middle-order batsman Miller said.
“This game is all about confidence and they probably didn’t perform the way they wanted to.
“But they are world-class players and we expect them to come out and bring their A-game and be up to the challenge.”
Pakistan bowler Naseem Shah has denied his side are still reeling from their harrowing opening defeat against India.
Pakistan were beaten on the last ball by their arch-rivals and followed that up with a shock defeat to Zimbabwe, before beating the Netherlands.
Reporters put it to him that Pakistan had failed to recover mentally from the India defeat, and fast bowler Naseem replied: “No, I don’t think so because everyone is professional and everyone knows about yourself.
“We lost against India but I don’t think anyone thinks about the India game because as a professional you can’t think about the past when you lose, especially then you can’t think about it.”
Miller hit an unbeaten half-century in a nervy five-wicket win over India, underlining South Africa’s title credentials – and their resilience.
“I suppose we find a lot of ways to win,” he said.
“We’ve done that over a period of time now. I’d say probably the last year, we’ve found ourselves in tough situations and managed to get over the line.
“I think the continuity of the group over time, guys have managed to kind of find their roles and if one guy doesn’t do well, another guy picks up the slack.”
The Proteas were touted as dark horses in the run-up to the showpiece in Australia and showed why with a fearsome pace attack and in-form batsmen.
Ahead of other matches in Group 2 later on Wednesday, they topped the table with two wins from three matches including victory over India. South Africa’s third match was washed out.
In contrast, Pakistan are fifth and their World Cup fate will be sealed if South Africa beat them at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Pakistan’s much-vaunted opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have failed to fire in three matches at the World Cup and are under pressure to find form, and fast.
“I think it’s an area to explore,” middle-order batsman Miller said.
“This game is all about confidence and they probably didn’t perform the way they wanted to.
“But they are world-class players and we expect them to come out and bring their A-game and be up to the challenge.”
Pakistan bowler Naseem Shah has denied his side are still reeling from their harrowing opening defeat against India.
Pakistan were beaten on the last ball by their arch-rivals and followed that up with a shock defeat to Zimbabwe, before beating the Netherlands.
Reporters put it to him that Pakistan had failed to recover mentally from the India defeat, and fast bowler Naseem replied: “No, I don’t think so because everyone is professional and everyone knows about yourself.
“We lost against India but I don’t think anyone thinks about the India game because as a professional you can’t think about the past when you lose, especially then you can’t think about it.”
Miller hit an unbeaten half-century in a nervy five-wicket win over India, underlining South Africa’s title credentials – and their resilience.
“I suppose we find a lot of ways to win,” he said.
“We’ve done that over a period of time now. I’d say probably the last year, we’ve found ourselves in tough situations and managed to get over the line.
“I think the continuity of the group over time, guys have managed to kind of find their roles and if one guy doesn’t do well, another guy picks up the slack.”
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