South Africa hold their nerve to beat Pakistan in thriller

CHENNAI: In what could be termed the best match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup South Africa held their nerve to snatch a thrilling one-wicket win over Pakistan at the M.A. Chiddambaram Stadium, Chepauk here Friday.

The win saw South Africa catapult to the top of the standings with 10 points, the same as India but with a better net run rate.

Pakistan fought tooth and nail to turn the game in their favour but luck was not with them. The defeat left them in danger of qualifying for a place in the semi-finals with only three games in hand. It was Pakistan’s fourth defeat in a row and the first time it has happened to them in World Cup history.

Chasing 271 under lights, Quinton de Kock looked like he wanted to end it in 30 overs but he holed out to a pull and Pakistan kept taking wickets at regular intervals to claw their way back into the contest. But Aiden Markram stood tall and looked set to take his side home but he too fell at the wrong time for a well compiled 91 off 93 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes). When the eighth wicket fell, Pakistan was back in the game. But Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi sensibly saw off the three pacers and Pakistan handicapped had to bring on a spinner which eventually turned out to South Africa’s benefit.

Pakistan was without spinner Shadab Khan who left the field after being hit on the head and Usama Mir who came on as a concussion sub took two big wickets. But in the end, it was South Africa who kept their heads at the most crucial time to come out victorious.

Probing spells Shamsi (4-60) and Marco Jansen (3-43) prevented Pakistan from posting a daunting total. Most of the Pakistan batters got starts – skipper Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel produced fifties – but none of them batted deep enough to make a significant impact on the innings. Shamsi and Jansen led South Africa’s quest of wickets and strikes at regular intervals meant that Pakistan, who got to 270, could never really break free.

Having opted to bat, the start didn’t go to plan for Pakistan as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique both fell in the first powerplay to Jansen. At 141/5 with almost half the overs left in the tank, Pakistan was staring at a possibility of being bowled well inside their allotted 50 overs. Shakeel along with Shadab Khan rescued the innings with a counterattacking 84-run stand and Pakistan was well on course for a total in the 280-300 range. But once the pair got separated, the innings fell apart. South Africa’s bowlers ensured that the lower order was cleaned up without much fuss and in the end. – (ST)

Scores: Pakistan 270 (46.4) (Babar Azam 50, Mohammad Rizwan 31, Ifhtikar Ahmed 21, Saud Shakeel 52, Shadab Khan 43, Mohammad Nawaz 24, Marco Jansen 3/43, Gerald Coetzee 2/42, Tabraiz Shamsi 4/60)

South Africa 271-9 (47.2) (Temba Bavuma 28, Quinton de Kock 24, Rassie van der Dussen 21, Aiden Markram 91, David Miller 29, Marco Jansen 20, Shaheen Afridi 3/45, Haris Rauf 2/62, Mohammad Wasim 2/50, Usama Mir 2/45)