CAPE FEAR; T20 SOUTH AFRICA CRASH OUT OF CUP.Proteas choke again in big game as Pakistan power into the final HOT favourites South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. blew their World Twenty20 chances - but skipper Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith (born 1 February 1981 in Johannesburg) is a cricketer who became the youngest ever player to captain the South African cricket team at the age of 22 refused to accept his team had choked on the big stage again. Smith rejected the theory South Africa had lost their nerve as an inspired Shahid Afridi Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (Urdu: صاحبزادہ محمد شاہد خان آفریدی led Pakistan into Sunday's final. "Every time we lose an important game, that word, chokers, is thrown around," Smith said after the seven-run loss at Trent Bridge Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottingham, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. last night. "But we have played great cricket and I am proud of the way the guys have performed. "During the last couple of years we have been on an upward curve and the team will improve and get stronger and stronger." Pakistan skipper Younus Khan admitted winning the tournament would provide a massive lift for his trouble-torn country and it's passionate cricket supporters. Afridi's man-of-the match heroics - a rapid 51 off 33 balls with eight boundaries and then 2-16 in his four-over bowling spell - was the main reason Pakistan will now face the winners of today's second semi-final between West Indies West Indies, archipelago, between North and South America, curving c.2,500 mi (4,020 km) from Florida to the coast of Venezuela and separating the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean. and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is banned from hosting any international matches after the recent terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team's coach in Lahore. Younus said: "We know it will give a big lift to everyone back home if we can win this competition. This World Cup is everything to us. We are suffering from everything in Pakistan and everyone knows about all the fighting, a lot of fighting. If we can lift the cup, it will provide great cheer for the people." Pakistan have gradually improved since their early reversal against England at The Oval and were able to successfully defend their total of 149-4 against the Proteas. Younus added: "In Twenty20 cricket it is all about things coming together at the right time. "I have match winners I can call upon like Afridi and Umar Gul who is improving every day. We have been slow starters in this competition but suddenly we are in the final. "I felt we were 15 to 20 runs short tonight and South Africa are capable of chasing 200 but we responded well." But Jacques Kallis' 64 proved to be in vain for Smith's men. SAD Smith CAPTION(S): BE AFRAID Afridi celebrates the wicket of AB de Villiers |
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