Secret to Sarfraz’s match-winning knock: “Don't look at the scoreboard”

Sarfraz Ahmed loves the Cardiff Wales Stadium.

Less than a year ago, he walked in at 77 for 3 and scored a crucial 90 to help Pakistan chase down a stiff target of 303 against England. But that knock pales in importance compared to the one he produced at the same venue on Monday in Pakistan's crucial Group B game of thePakistan chase down a stiff target of 303 against England. But that knock pales in importance compared to the one he produced at the same venue on Monday in Pakistan's crucial Group B game of theICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka. A semi-final spot was at stake, and Pakistan was collapsing in a familiar fashion, although the target – 237 – was very attainable

Fakhar Zaman, the opener, had given Pakistan a quick start with a 36-ball 50, but Pakistan slid from 92 for 1 to 137 for 6, and then 162 for 7. Sri Lanka's hold on the game was increasing and a semi-final place was within touching distance, but Sarfraz stood in between. He produced a captain's knock at the most crucial time, making an unbeaten 61 to guide his side home.

"I think this is a very important knock for me," he told ICC after the game. "As the Pakistan team captain, if you play that type of an innings, it really boosts you up. Importantly, it was a great win for us and we're very confident."

But it wouldn't be fair to forget the importance of Mohammad Amir's knock. The No. 9 batsman walked in with Pakistan still 75 runs away from triumph. It seemed like an eternity, but the Sarfraz-Amir pair broke it down brick by brick.

Sarfraz explained that the key conversation at that time was to not look at the scoreboard.

"I was thinking that if I play 50 overs, we would win," he explained. "Credit goes to Amir, he played really well. I just told him to play ball by ball. 'Don't look up, don't look at the scoreboard'. I told him to just play his game. We just played our normal games."

Easier said that done though. The biggest challenge was to keep calm – an aspect of the game Pakistan has often failed at. Sarfraz himself was visibly upset as he lost partners; he kicked the turf when Imad Wasim was caught behind and seemed helpless when his straight drive deflected off the bowler's fingers to catch Fahim Ashraf out.

"When Imad Wasim got out, I felt the pressure," conceded Sarfraz. "He can bat and bowl, he is a good batsman and we were confident when he was there. But hats off to Amir. The way he played was outstanding.

"When we had 40 to win, I was feeling the pressure but Amir was calm. We just played our natural games. Yes we were lucky with dropped catches but we held our calm."

For his part, Amir too credited Sarfraz for guiding him 'every ball'.

"He was calm. Normally he is not," laughed Amir later. "But he was at that time and credit goes to him. He played really well. Everybody can feel pressure but he played an outstanding knock. He was guiding me every ball.

"It was a crucial time when I went in. Sarfraz told me I had to play according to the situation. We were looking for only three runs per over and we batted according to the situation."

It all ended well for Pakistan, but it might have been very different had it not been for its bowlers. Sri Lanka was coasting at 161 for 3 at one stage but Pakistan's pacers derailed the innings, bowling it out for 236. Even on his biggest day, the captain did not forget their contribution.

"The credit goes to all the bowlers, especially Amir, Junaid Khan and Hassan Ali," he said. "Youngster Fahim Ashraf also bowled really well. They were playing really well at one stage and they got us back into the game."