Men of Steel

SARFRAZ AHMED

Until yesterday Pakistan were struggling to find a partner for Ahmed Shehzad at the top ever since Mohammad Hafeez's injury. That was of course until Sarfraz Ahmed plated an ice-cool 49 at the top of the innings yesterday. His entertaining 49-ball knock witnessed three sixes and provided Pakistan with the start that they had been craving for. It didn't just end with the bat for Sarfraz. On the field, he complemented some brilliant bowling from the pacers with six catches behind the stumps. He kept his nerves during the crucial moments and didn't make any mistakes; and helped Pakistan get what was perhaps their most important win of the tournament.

ED JOYCE

Ireland's game against Zimbabwe was their most crucial encounter of the World Cup. For one, their hopes of a quarterfinals berth depended on it; and secondly, they had to prove to the world that the win against the West Indies was no fluke. In a sense, their players had to deal with double the pressure. And it was in these circumstances that Ed Joyce hit a responsible 112 to give the Irish the best possible start. While Zimbabwe almost chased down Ireland's 331, but in the end, the pressure got to them and that's all because of the massive total. With three sixes and nine fours, Joyce's innings kept Ireland in the race for a position in the next round that they truly deserve.