South Africa beat Pakistan by 1 wicket in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Pakistan, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, were bowled out for 270. In response, the Proteas riding on Aiden Markram's 91 reached their target with 16 balls remaining. The result implies a fourth straight defeat for Pakistan following defeats against India, Australia and Afghanistan in their previous three fixtures and a massive blow to their chances of securing a place in the semis.
While South Africa were reduced to 250/8 in 41.1 overs with the help of Shaheen Shah Afridi's 3 for 45, in the end Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi held on to their nerves to help the Proteas cross the winning line with a close LBW decision also going South Africa's way on umpire's call. In the end it was Maharaj who hit the winning runs, scoring 7 off 21 but hitting runs with the help of a boundary off Mohammad Nawaz.
Tabraiz Shamsi adjudged the Player Of the Match in PAK vs SA, World Cup 2023
The Proteas bowling was led by Player Of the Match Tabraiz Shamsi who scalped 4 wickets for 60 runs and dismissed Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Afridi. His victims include two half-centurions Babar and Shakeel who had individually chipped in with 50 and 52 respectively. Marco Jansen also returned with figures of 3 for 43 off his 9 overs, Gerald Coetzee picked 2 for 42 off his seven overs while Lungi Ngidi was the other wicket-taker and scalped 1 wicket for 45 runs in 7.4 overs.
It could have been far worse for the Men in Green had it not been for the 84 off the 71 balls stand between Shakeel and Shadab Khan (43 off 36). However, wickets continued to tumble soon after the stand was broken and the team eventually bundled out for 46.4 overs. In response, South Africa got off to a flying start and even though wickets continued to fall and Aiden Makram fell for 91 (93) near the finish line, there was no pressure of the required run rate allowing the lower order batters to take their time and focus on getting the team over the line.
This meant Maharaj, who hit the winning runs, could take 21 balls for his 7 runs that allowed the team to win the match. South Africa's innings saw two half-century stands one between Rassie van der Dussen (21 off 39) and Markram worth 54 off 54 for the third wicket and a stand worth 70 off 69 balls between David Miller (29 off 33) and Makram for the fifth wicket.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi was the best bowler with figures of 45 runs, while concussion sub Usama Mir (2/45 off 8), Mohammad Wasim (2/50), and Haris Rauf (2/62) were the wicket-takers but it wasn't enough on the day