London: Spinner Imran Tahir has removed both Pakistan opening batsmen to become the leading South Africa wicket-taker in Cricket World Cups.
The two wickets gave him 39, one more than fast bowler Allan Donald, who retired after the 2003 World Cup.
Tahir, the oldest man in the tournament at 40, induced Fakhar Zaman to lob a catch to first slip in the 15th over, and brilliantly caught Imam-ul-Haq off his own bowling in the 21st. Pakistan was reduced to 98-2.
Tahir, as always, celebrated by running around the Lord's ground with arms out like he was flying.
He has 10 wickets in this tournament.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first against South Africa at Lord's.
Pakistan made two changes from its defeat to India last weekend, bringing in batsman Haris Sohail and bowler Shaheen Afridi for Shoaib Malik and Hasan Ali.
South Africa was unchanged after its narrow loss to New Zealand on Wednesday.
Captain Faf du Plessis said he would have chosen to bowl, anyway.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis (captain), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi.
Pakistan needs a win more than South Africa from their Cricket World Cup group match at Lord's on Sunday.
Both teams have won only once, but Pakistan has a match in hand and a slightly better outside chance of making the semifinals.
South Africa's chances are remote, and gone if it loses.
Pakistan is coming off a thumping from India a week ago. South Africa lost in the last over to New Zealand on Wednesday.
South Africa has a 3-1 win-loss record against Pakistan in World Cup history.
Spinner Imran Tahir needs two more wickets to surpass Allan Donald as South Africa's leading wicket-taker in World Cups. Donald has 38. Tahir is the only bowler here not to have been hit for six. He's delivered 282 balls.
Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has 13 wickets for Pakistan at this World Cup, at an average of just 13.
The forecast is for cloudy but warm conditions.
