It started at around 6.7 and reached 8.5 by the time batsmen were looking to hit.
Do you know how 9 runs are scored in an EVERY over to win the match?
You MUST HIT a BOUNDARY EVERY OVER.
That's not easy to do and every over that you play out 4-6 runs will cause the RRR to get higher and higher.
When Babar got out as it is, it was already 8.5. Hafeez had no choice but to play aerial from ball number 2 anyways. When the RRR is 8.5 for greater part of 25 overs, each batsmen that gets out, puts extra pressure on the new batsmen to keep hitting a boundary from ball 1.
I don't like this approach at all of taking the game deep UNLESS you have hitters like PANDYA, MAXWELL, CAREY, BAIRSTOW, BUTLER in your side.
What was Pakistan doing taking the game deep and letting the run rate hit 10 or 11 an over?
Sarfraz would become Butler? Malik would become Pandya? Imad would become Maxwell?
I think people underestimate the importance of letting the RRR always stay around 6-7 max per over and think that even 8 per over is doable at the end.
THE HIGHEST run chase in this WORLD CUP IS 245.
Imagine?
And still people want wickets in hand to attack a 350 target after cantering to 160 odd in 30 overs.
It just won't happen.
The pressure is too much.