Cricket World Cup 2023: South Africa prevails over Pakistan in tense finish, top table

Chasing Pakistan's 270 all out in 46.4 overs, the Proteas, got off to a blazing start, lost plot in the middle overs, lost wickets at regular intervals after stitching short partnerships, before romping home by one wicket, with Keshav Maharaj hitting the winning runs, much to the delight of the team members.

The 20-plus runs extras conceded by Pakistan seemed to have a decisive effect in the outcome of this crucial contest.

While the loss has virtually dented Pakistan's hopes of making it to the knock out, suffering its fourth straight loss, despite their bowlers bowling their heart out, South Africa with its fifth win in six matches topped the table and strengthened its chances of a semi final spot.

Though India too has five wins in as many matches, the Proteas, with three more matches left, were in the pole position in the table on the basis of superior net run rate.

It was a contest, in which no quarter was asked nor given. Pakistan put up a decent total, which eventually proved they were about 20-30 runs short, and the bowlers fired on all the cylinders, with the pacers and the spinners coming to the party keeping the rival batsmen on tight leash, before falling short at the final hurdle.

South Africa finished at 271 for 9 in 47.2 overs in a close contest with left arm spinner Tabraiz Shamshi, inducted into the side, winning the man of the match award for his four wicket haul earlier in the innings that choked the Pakistan batsmen in the middle overs.

It was indeed a commendable performance from the Pakistan bowlers, with left arm seamer Shaheen Shan Afridi claiming three wickets in three short spells keeping the team in the hunt, and other fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Mohd Wasim claiming two wickets each, after leggie, Usma Mir, who came in a concussion substitute for Shadab, revived the hopes with two wickets, including a wicket in his first over.

With this loss, Pakistan's chances of qualifying for the knockout were all but gone. But it could still win all the three remaining matches with big margins and hope that the results of the other matches goes in their favour to entertain any outside chance of qualifying.

Earlier, batting first Pakistan, in a must win game, failed to convert good starts and were bowled out for 270 in 46.4 overs. Skipper Babar Azam once again led from the front with a 65-ball 50 (4x4, 1x6) and another half century by Saud Shakeel (52, 52 balls, 7x4) and a swift Shadab Khan (43, 36 balls, 3x4, 2x6) and their 84-run association for the sixth wicket in 11.5 overs injected life into the innings and lent respectability to the total.

South African left arm wrist spinner T.Shamsi, who was drafted into the side to strengthen the spin attack well aware that the Chepauk pitch usually assists the slow bowlers, picked up four wickets, while left arm medium pacer Marco Jansen claimed three wickets.

Aiming for its fifth win, the inform South Africans, started their chase--in pursuit of 271--with a flier as left hander Quinton de Kock, who had already had three hundreds in this edition, was in a punishing mood.

When Pakistan opened the bowling with off spinner Iftikhar Ahmed, who started with five wides, the message was clear that the spinners had a key role to play to keep the team's fortune alive.

The first over yielded 11 runs but left arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled the second over, was treated with disdain as

De Kock pummelled him for four boundaries, including three on the trot as the Proteas raced to 30 for no loss in two overs.

However, Afridi came back strongly in the next over and got rid of De Kock, with a short ball. De Kock went for pull, did not get the elevation, and picked out Mohd Wasim at the deep square leg fence, as Pakistan got the much needed breakthrough and that too the key wicket of De Kock (24, 14 balls, 5x4) who was in prime form in what could be his last World Cup.

In a bit to tie down the South African batsmen and with two right handers --skipper Temba Bavuma, who returned to the side after recovering from a niggle, and Rassie van der Dussen--at the crease, Pakistan brought in left arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz after two overs of off spin.

However, a tight first over, Bavuma targeted Nawaz hitting him out of the attack striking three fours (a sweep to square leg, an inside out shot over cover and a gentle flick between mid on and midwicket) in his next over as the Proteas reached 52 in the seventh over s the two spinners together conceded 31 runs in their four overs.

When the duo were chugging along nicely came the breakthrough number two for Pakistan in the final over of the first power play (10th over). Bavuma, after a meaty 27-ball 28 that contained four fours and a six, fell to a short pitched stuff off medium pacer Mohd Wasim after adding 33 in 6.2 overs, as another in-form batter Aiden Markram joined the party.

Markram was quick into his elements as he hit a flurry of boundaries and sixers, as the Proteas reached 100 in the 14th over, while Rassie at the other end rightly played the second fiddle, rotating the strike well.

The exit of well set Rassie (21, 39 balls) trapped by concussion substitute and leggie Usama Mir in the 19th over after adding 54 runs in 54 balls with Markram, led to a mild wobble in the chase, as Heinrich Klassen, another in form batsman was dismissed by pacer Mohd Wasim.

Meanwhile, Markram curbed his attacking strokeplay, applied himself to the task, rebuilt the chase with another big hitter David Miller (29, 33 balls, 2x4, 2x6) and added 70 for the fifth wicket in 9.3 overs.

Markaram, who reached yet another half century in this edition and held the innings together added 29 runs for six wickets with Marco Jansen, who was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who came back well after conceding 19 runs in the first over, to revive Pakistan's hopes.

However, Markaram stood confident personified, held the innings together, as the target came down to just 22 in the final power play.

Just when Markram was expected to take the home team past the finishing line, Usama Mir came up with his key wicket, tossing one up, and the resultant hoick, spooned to Babar Azam at point.

The exit of Markaram, who scored 91 in 93 balls, with seven fours and three sixers, triggered yet another collapse and raised hopes of Pakistan's first win in 10 years against the Proteas in an ICC event.

The seam bowlers led by Afridi, Haris Rauf, who came up with a stunning one handed low left handed catch diving forward on his follow through, raised Pakistan's hopes before the last wicket pair of Maharaj and Shamsi survived tense moments to complete a famous victory with 16 balls to spare.