South Africa Stuns Pakistan in World Cup Thriller

South Africa Stuns Pakistan in World Cup Thriller

VoM News Desk | October 28, 2023 | 06:32 AM IST | Sports | Follow on Google News

South Africa Stuns Pakistan in World Cup Thriller

South Africa Stuns Pakistan in World Cup Thriller

In a thrilling World Cup encounter, South Africa defeated Pakistan by just one wicket in Chennai. This victory is significant as it marks South Africa’s first World Cup win against Pakistan since the 1999 edition.

Chasing a target of 271, the Proteas looked set for a comfortable victory at 235 for 5. However, an inspired phase of high-quality pace bowling by Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/45) and Haris Rauf (2/62) brought Pakistan back into the game. The South African lower order struggled, and the match became a nail-biter.

Keshav Maharaj (7 not out) and Tabraiz Shamsi (4 not out) held their nerves and added a crucial 11 runs, securing the win in 47.2 overs. This victory not only puts South Africa back on track in the World Cup but also takes them to the top of the points table with 10 points.

Despite this loss, Pakistan finds itself in a precarious situation in the tournament. With just four points from six games, their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals are slim, even if they win all three remaining matches.

Babar Azam’s Batting Efforts in Vain

In the match, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam led from the front with a half-century. He scored 50 off 65 deliveries, but his team’s batters couldn’t capitalize on their starts, and Pakistan was bowled out for 270. This total was considered below par on a good batting track in Chennai.

Saud Shakeel also contributed with a run-a-ball 52, and the two of them had a partnership of 84 runs, which momentarily put Pakistan back on track. However, the lower-order collapse resulted in the team being dismissed in 46.4 overs.

Tabraiz Shamsi, playing only his second game, was the star with the ball for South Africa, finishing with figures of 4 for 60. Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee also made valuable contributions, taking three and two wickets, respectively.

Despite a strong start, Pakistan couldn’t build enough partnerships, and their batting let them down in the end. This loss is a significant setback for Pakistan’s World Cup campaign, and they now face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals.

VoM News Desk

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