Chennai, 27 October 2023: South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket in the 26th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in Chennai. The match seemed too close to call with both teams being neck and neck until the final overs.
South African openers Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock made brief cameos and ended their runs at 28 (27) and 24 (14) respectively. Rassie van der Dussen lost his wicket to Usama Mir after making 21 off 39 balls while Aiden Markram went on to make a stellar 91 off 93 deliveries before being caught by Babar Azam off the bowling of Usama in the 41st over of the chase.
Pakistan bowlers succeeded in rattling South Africa’s lower-order batters with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir claiming crucial wickets towards the end of the match. However, South African batters Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi managed to deliver their team victory despite Pakistan’s bowling prowess.
Earlier, Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq lost their wickets after contributing 9 (17) and 12 (18) respectively. Skipper Babar Azam managed to make 50 off 65 with four boundaries and one six before losing his wicket to Shamsi while Mohammad Rizwan scored 31 off 27 before being caught behind off Gerald Coetzee.
Saud Shakeel scored a half-century, producing an impressive 52 off 52 balls with the help of seven boundaries while Shadab Khan made 43 off 36 (3x4s, 2x6s) before being sent to the pavilion.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz scored 21 (31) and 24 (24) respectively. Mohammad Wasim Jnr was the last batter to be dismissed when he perished for seven off nine while attempting thrash outside off-stump.
South African bowler Tabraiz Shamsi emerged as the player of the match with a sensational four-fer whilst giving away 60 runs.
Scores in brief
South Africa beat Pakistan by one wicket
Pakistan 270 all out, 46.4 overs (Saud Shakeel 52, Babar Azam 50; Tabraiz Shamsi 4-60, Marco Jansen 3-43)
South Africa 271-9, 47.2 overs (Aiden Markram 91, David Miller 29; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-45, Usama Mir 2-45, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-50, Haris Rauf 2-62)
Player of the match – Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa)
