Pakistan v South Africa, World T20, commentary

Pakistan win by 11 runs Pakistan defend a modest total of 148-7 for an 11-run victory over South Africa. The Proteas are out of the World Twenty20 as a result, while Pakistan must now wait for the result of the final Group E game between England and New Zealand later today to learn their fate. Pakistan will qualify for the semi-finals if England win, however a New Zealand victory would see them miss out. Either way England are through. Thanks for your company and stay logged on for more commentary from St Lucia when England v New Zealand gets under way at 6.30pm (BST).

Over 20 Ajmal 1-1-1-W-2-0 137-7 - Morkel is content to drop a single into the off-side and bring Botha on strike. Botha can only get a single to mid-off from the second ball. Morkel can also only manage a single with a mistimed swipe at the third delivery. Wicket! With a boundary needed, Ajmal seals the win for Pakistan by having Botha stumped after missing with a big heave into the leg-side. Botha's 19 off eight balls came too late to rescue the situation. Van Der Merwe takes two from the last two balls but South Africa end up 12 short of their target and are eliminated from the World Twenty20.

Over 19 Aamer 4-1-1-0-4-4 132-6 - Botha is offered just a touch of width and responds by driving through the covers for four. Misbah dives forward but just fails to get a hand on a difficult chance at extra cover, resulting in a single for Botha. Aamer's full toss hits Morkel in a very painful spot just below the waist - that was almost a no-ball. Botha keeps his side in it with consecutive boundaries to finish the over, down to fine-leg and third-man respectively. He took advantage of Afridi's field settings, on each occasion dispatching the shot to the place where the fielder had been brought inside the circle. South Africa require 17 from the final over. Ajmal will bowl it and Morkel is on strike.

Over 18 Ajmal 1-4-0-W-4-1 118-6 - Afridi is furious as the fielder on the square-leg boundary for failing to cut off Boucher's sweep. Wicket! Boucher's attempt to repeat the stroke ends in disaster as he misses with a big heave and is given out lbw by umpire Doctrove, the simplest of decisions. New batsman Botha cheekily reverse sweeps his first ball for four and then retains the strike with a single down to long-on. South Africa need 31 off 12 balls.

Over 17 Aamer 1-1-1-1-1-2- 109-5 - Aamer is back on, the first sighting of a seam bowler since the sixth over. Umpire Billy Doctrove almost eats Boucher's pull shot at square-leg, just rolling out of the way at the very last moment. Both batsmen are flailing away with a distinct lack of timing, restricted to just ones and twos as Aamer keeps it full and at the stumps. South Africa require 40 from 18 balls.

Over 16 Ajmal 1-1-1-W-0-1 102-5 - Wicket! De Villiers departs from a miscued attempt to scoop Ajmal's doosra over the wicketkeeper's head. It lobbed up in the air to give Kamran Akmal a simple catch - horrible shot selection given he'd blasted two straight sixes in the previous over. The big-hitting Albie Morkel strolls out to join Mark Boucher with the required rate having spiralled above 11 and South Africa in the last-chance saloon.

Over 15 Rehman 2-0-4-6-6-2 98-4 - De Villiers finally breaks the shackles, going to his half-century (38b 1x4, 2x6) with consecutive sixes back over Rehman's head. A total of 20 runs from the over brings the Proteas back from the brink - they require 51 off 30 balls.

Over 14 Afridi 1-1-2-2-1-0 78-4 - Afridi finishes off a four-over spell costing just 21 runs - excellent stuff from the skipper, who has been constantly on the case of his fielders. South Africa require 71 from the final 36 balls.

Over 13 Rehman 1-wd-1-W-1-1-1 71-4 - Wicket! JP Duminy goes for a big one over the leg-side but doesn't get enough on it and is caught by Latif at deep midwicket. Can't blame Duminy for that, he had to try something - and the pressure on the incoming batsmen is only going to get worse. South Africa have made a royal mess of this run chase.

Over 12 Afridi 3-1-1-1-1-1lb 65-3 - De Villiers gets three with a drive out into the off-side. The sweeper cut it off and there still hasn't been a boundary since the sixth over. He is lucky to middle a sweep later in the over as, had he missed, he would have been lbw. South Africa require 84 from 48 balls at a required rate of 10.50.

Over 11 Ajmal 2-2-2-1-W-1 57-3 - De Villiers puts his skates on to get the scoreboard moving with a trio of twos, doubt Kallis enjoyed those much. Wicket! Kallis is gone, brilliantly caught by Umar Akmal diving forward after racing in from long-off. Simon Doull says what everyone else was thinking: "I can't help but wonder if that might not be a bad thing for South Africa."

Over 10 Afridi 0-1-1-0-0-1 49-2 - De Villiers gets himself in trouble attempting to scoop the ball over the wicketkeeper's head in the style patented by Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan. His first try sees the ball deflect off Kamran Akmal's shoulder and drop just short of Aamer diving forward from point. The second fails to make any contact, leaving the required rate now above 10! What are South Africa playing at?

Over 9 Rehman 0-wd-1-1-1-0-1 46-2 - Again South Africa build in singles, the required rate is up to 9.36. Pakistan were 46-3 at the corresponding stage of their innnigs.

Over 8 Afridi 0-0-1-0-2-1 41-2 - Afridi brings himself on to bowl some quick leg-spinners. South Africa have played out 17 dots so far and hit just three boundaries - someone in light green is going to have to hit the launch button before much longer...

Over 7 Hafeez 0-1-1-1-1-1 37-2 - Hafeez, a diminutive right-arm off-spinner with a similar action to Saqlain Mushtaq, comes into the attack now the fielding restrictions have been relaxed. South Africa appear content to push the singles but the required rate is starting to climb - up to 8.61 now. I don't think the Proteas have approached this run chase in the right way, they are digging a hole for themselves at the moment.

Over 6 Razzaq 0-1-1-1-1-4 32-2 - Change of ends for Razzaq. With third-man inside the circle, Kalis relieves the building pressure by guiding a short ball down to the vacant boundary. South Africa require 117 from 84 balls.

Over 5 Rehman 1-2-0-W-1-0 24-2 - Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman is brought into the attack, will the change of pace encourage South Africa to attack?...Wicket Smith departs in soft fashion, chipping a short ball to Afridi on the edge of the circle at mid-on. He seemed to get caught in two minds unsure whether to try and hit it for four or one - in the end he did neither. AB de Villiers steals a single to point from his first ball.

Over 4 Aamer 1-0-1-0-1-1 20-1 - Aamer is steaming in and letting it fly at close to 90mph but his line, particularly to the left-handed Smith, has been too straight. South Africa have not really looked to attack during the powerplay thus far, they know this will be a comfortable chase if they bat sensibly.

Over 3 Razzaq 0-1-1-W-0-4 16-1 - Gibbs checks a drive after spotting Razzaq's slower ball but nevertheless picks up a single. Wicket! Sharp catch from Misbah at midwicket accounts for Gibbs, who middled a pull but just failed to clear the fielder. Misbah reached above his head and plucked it out of the air two handed. Kallis joins Smith, so the Proteas normal opening pair are now reunited. He gets off the mark with a square-drive for four after taking a couple of steps down the pitch - touch of class from the big man.

Over 2 Aamer 2-0-4-1-0-1 10-0 - Ideally, South Africa would like to get these as quickly as possible as, if New Zealand beat England in the second game of the day, all three teams will have four points and net run-rate will decide which two progress to the semi-final. Left-arm paceman Mohammad Aamer gets the angle wrong to the left-handed Smith, who helps it down to the fine-leg boundary.

Over 1 Razzaq 0-1-0-1-0-0 2-0 - South Africa have promoted Gibbs to open with Smith, meaning Kallis drops down into the middle-order. Umpire Gould turns down a caught behind appeal after Gibbs flirts and misses outside off-stump at his first ball - the lack of appeal from the bowler was the giveaway. Gibbs gets off the mark by running a single down to third-man and Smith also opens his account with a single into the leg-side.

Innings break Pakistan, led by Umar Akmal's 31-ball half-century, recovered from 18-3 early on to post a total of 148-7 from their 20 overs. They looked on course for 160+ before the double loss of Akmal and Shahid Afridi to Langeveldt's impressive bowling in the 17th over stalled their charge. South Africa's run chase starts shortly...

Over 20 Langeveldt 1-0-W-2-1-2 148-7 - Wicket! Misbah holes out to AB de Villiers on the long-off boundary as Pakistan's innings finishes with a whimper. Langeveldt finishes with figures of 4-19 from his four overs, including 14 dot balls. Pakistan are about 20 short of but 148 at least gives them a chance, which didn't look likely when they were 19-3 after six overs.

Over 19 Steyn 0-1-1-2-1-0 142-6 - Razzaq's pedestrian running costs his side a run, he turned down the opportunity of a third. Steyn fields off his own bowling but misses with his shy at the stumps, Misbah wasn't in the picture. Yorker machine Langeveldt will bowl the final over...

Over 18 Morkel 1-0-1-1-1-1 137-6 - Abdul Razzaq and Misbah-ul-Haq, both new to the crease, are restricted to dealing in singles. Langeveldt's double strike has stalled Pakistan's charge at just the right/wrong moment (depending on your allegiance).

Over 17 Langeveldt 6-0-W-2-0--W 132-6 - Umar Akmal completes his half-century from 31 balls with another huge six, his fourth, back over Langeveldt's head. Wicket! Umar Akmal tries to repeat the dose but gets too much elevation and Gibbs takes the catch at long-on after waiting an age for it to come down out of the clouds. Wicket! Afridi is bowled after backing away and missing with his attempt to run the ball down down to third-man.

Over 16 Steyn 0-1-4-1-4-4 124-4 - Steyn's elbow problem doesn't prevent him returning to the attack for a second spell. Umar Akmal smears one from outside off-stump for four to midwicket. Afridi gets lucky, slicing a through the vacant slip region for four to complete a half-century partnership from 29 balls. Another boundary follows, this time shovelled by Afridi to long-on, from the final delivery.

Over 15 Kallis 1-1-1-1-2-2 110-4 - Kallis mixes things up with yorkers and bouncers. He also switches his angle from over to around the wicket for Afridi. A couple of hard-run twos to finish the over somewhat spoil Kallis' earlier good work. Pakistan will have their sights on 160+ - I'd say 160 is the absolute minimum required.

Over 14 Morkel 1-6-1-6-1lb-1 102-4 - Umar Akmal picks a full ball off the stumps and dispatches it for six over square-leg - wonderful piece of timing. Afridi gets involved in the fun with a flat six over long-on. South Africa are looking a bit deflated after wasting such a strong start.

Over 13 Kallis 4-4-1-0-4-0 86-4 - Afridi, who has scored just 53 runs in the tournament coming into this match, hits consecutive fours - the first one driven in the air over the off-side and the second pulled to square-leg. Umpire Gould is not interested in an lbw appeal against Afridi, spotting a thin inside edge. Umar flicks a ball passed short fine-leg and away to the boundary. He tries, and fails, to repeat the dose to the final ball of the over. Pakistan's batsmen have decided not to die wondering here, they have carried on trying to hit almost everything out of the park regardless of the wickets column.

Over 12 Morkel 2-0-1-0-0-1 73-4 - Nasser Hussain in the commentary box has criticised South Africa's team selection, judging it to be "reactive" rather than "proactive". I agree with him, you have to wonder why Morne Morkel has been dropped for a spinner after what we've seen so far. Afridi has joined Umar Akmal in the middle.

Over 11 Van der Merwe 6-0-1-6-6-W 69-4 - Van der Merwe is back on and Umar greets his return by dancing down the pitch and launching his first ball for a huge six over long-off. Kamran refuses to be overshadowed by his younger brother - sending consecutive sixes back over Van der Merwe's head. Wicket! Van der Merwe has the last laugh, Kamran chopping a short delivery to a diving Herschelle Gibbs at backward point. Difficult catch made to look easy by Gibbs.

Over 10 Morkel 1-1-0-1-0-1 50-3 - Smith had no choice but to bring one of his seamers, Morkel, back on. Despite an elbow injury, Steyn is still out there but cannot throw the ball in to the wicketkeeper, he has to bowl it underawn - he will bowl later on in the innings otherwise he wouldn't still be out there. Morkel trundles in and delivers an accurate but unthreatening over, four singles from it.

Over 9 Botha wd-1-4-2-0-0-1 46-3 - South Africa under pressure for the first time in the game as Umar sprints down the track to launch an aerial drive, albeit just for a single. Kamran gets more value, stepping away and cutting to the backward point boundary. Pakistan look very comfortable since the spinners came on, time for a rethink from Smith...

Over 8 Van der Merwe 1-1-4-1-6-1 37-3 - Spin at both ends as Van der Merwe comes into the attack. "An angry left-arm spinner," says Pommie Mbangwa. And his mood is not improved as the Akmal brothers tuck in, Kamran sweeping a straight ball between the two fielders on the leg-side for four and Umar taking the aerial route in the same region for the first six of the game.

Over 7 Botha 1-1-0-0-wd-1-0 23-3 - With the fielding restrictions now relaxed, Smith turns straight away to spin in the form of Johan Botha. Aside from a wide down the leg-side, Botha makes a tight start, conceding just three singles with the field spread far and wide.

Richard Sharp "I think it's a shocker of a decision to drop Morne Morkel, he is the only bowler able generate any bounce on these muddy patches, called pitches.."

Over 6 Kallis 0-0-0-1-0-0 19-3 - The Akmal brothers are together with Pakistan's title defence approaching crisis point. Kallis tests out the middle of the pitch with a series of short balls - there is a bit more carry for the quicks than you'd expect from looking at the pitch. Kamran manages to collect a single off his hip but that is the only run from the over to bring an end to the powerplay.

Over 5 Langeveldt 0-1-0-1-0-W 18-3 - Mohammad Hafeez, one place lower in the order than usual thanks to Latif's inclusion, gets his first run with an edge along the floor into the backward point region. Akmal also collects a single on the leg-side. Wicket! Easy decision for umpire Ian Gould as Hafeez attempts to work a straight ball into the leg-side but makes no contact. He departs plumb lbw to leave Pakistan in big trouble.

Over 4 Kallis 4-0-0-W-2-0 16-2 - Steyn has hurt his right elbow throwing the ball in from the boundary. He is still out there fielding at the moment but has been withdrawn from the bowling attack in favour of Jacques Kallis for the time being. Kallis' first ball is too short and Latif pulls it for four with great ease. Wicket! Latif's policy of throwing the bat at everything comes to a sticky end as he holes out to Steyn at mid-on. He tried to pick up a drive off the back foot but didn't get nearly enough on it. Akmal gets a couple behind square on the leg-side after Kallis strayed onto his pads.

Over 3 Langeveldt 0-0-2-0-1-0 10-1 - Change of bowling straight away sees Charl Langeveldt into the attack. Langeveldt gets some nice shape towards the solitary slip with his first couple of deliveries then gets his line too straight to allow Latif to get off the mark with a clip for two into the leg-side. He also collects a single with an attempted heave that dribbled off the bottom edge and out to square-leg.

Over 2 Steyn 2-0-0-W-0-wd-0 7-1 - Butt, the second highest run scorer in the tournament behind Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, opens his account with an uppish flick to midwicket for a couple. Wicket! But the left-hander doesn't last much longer, skying an attempted pull high in the air for Graeme Smith to take a well-judged catch at mid-on. He tried to fetch it from outside off-stump and paid the price. New batsman Latif is greeted with a bouncer.

Over 1 Morkel 0-4-0-0-0-0 4-0 - With his brother carrying the drinks, Albie Morkel is handed the new ball. Kamran Akmal leaves the first ball alone outside off-stump and then crushes a short, wide delivery to the backward point boundary to get off the mark. There is good carry through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for Morkel, whose pace is only in the low 80mph. Akmal is beaten on the drive by some late swing from the final ball of the over.

Get in touch Send in your e-mails throughout the game to graham.mair@bskyb.com. What do you think of South Africa's decision to drop Morne Morkel?

History This is the fifth game of the tournament to be held at the Beausejour Cricket Ground and India are the only team to have completed a successful run chase - and that was against Afghanistan. Excluding India's win over Afghanistan, the average first-innings score at the ground is 183.

Odds update Our friends at Skybet make South Africa 8/15 favourites and Pakistan 11/8. They are offering a wide range of markets on the game, including Afridi at 11/2 to be Pakistan's top batsman.

Pitch report Pommie Mbangwa has inspected today's pitch and reports it to be drier than those used at the same venue earlier in the tournament. He expects far less pace and bounce than was seen during recent matches in Barbados and believes 160 is a par score. Both teams have included an extra spin option so obviously believe it is more suited to the slower bowlers.

Team news Both sides have made one change to their line-up. Pakistan have dropped paceman Mohammad Sami for Khalid Latif, a batsman who bowls some part time spin. South Africa have also left out a fast bowler, Morne Morkel, for left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe.

Toss Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry, grassless pitch that looks full of runs. An easy choice for Afridi.

Equation Group E concludes today with all four sides still in the hunt for a semi-final place. Pakistan need a victory over South Africa coupled with an England win over New Zealand later on to make it through. The same formula applies to South Africa, who could also sneak in if they win by 43 or more runs and New Zealand beat England by 30 or more runs - the only scenario that would see England missing out.

Good afternoon Welcome to over-by-over commentary from the Group E match between Pakistan and South Africa in St Lucia. Play starts at 2.30pm (BST), join us then.

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