South Africa vs Pakistan, World Cup 2023: South Africa go top of the table after winning Chennai thriller

South Africa held their nerves to edge Pakistan and move up to the top of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 points table.

The Proteas came out on top in a thrilling encounter, beating Pakistan by one wicket at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.

With this result, Pakistan lost four consecutive matches in the history of ODI World Cups for the very first time. As for South Africa, they leapfrogged India to the top of the table due to a superior net run-rate of +2.032.

South Africa got off to a flying start with Marco Jansen providing them with two early wickets in the powerplay. The towering pacer dismissed Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul-Haq to leave Pakistan reeling at 38 for 2.

Skipper Babar Azam and wicket-keeping batter Mohammad Rizwan settled Pakistan’s innings with a 48-run stand following the two quick dismissals. Rizwan went on to score 21 runs off 27 balls, before being dismissed by Gerald Coetzee.

Iftikhar Ahmed chipped in with 21 runs before falling at the hands of Tabraiz Shamsi. The tricky spinner struck once again, this time removing Babar, who had just completed his 31st ODI half-century and his third in the ongoing World Cup.

Following Babar’s dismissal, Shadab Khan and Saud Shakeel took the attack to the Proteas and stitched an 86-run stand to get their side back in the game. Shadab was looking good for his maiden fifty in this World Cup, but fell short by seven runs. He scored a quick-fire 36-ball 43 before being dismissed by Coetzee.

Shakeel went on to complete his third half-century in ODIs before Shamsi sent him back to the pavilion. All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a run-a-ball 24 to provide Pakistan with a final flourish, taking them to a total of 270 runs in 46.4 overs.

Interestingly, all of Pakistan’s batters were dismissed via catches against South Africa. Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas, claiming four wickets while giving away 60 runs in 10 overs.

USAMA COMES ON AS CONCUSSION SUBSTITUTE

Pakistan were dealt a heavy injury blow early in the second innings, with Shadab enduring a whiplash injury, which eventually forced him out of the game with leg-spinner Usama Mir coming in as the concussion substitute.

After getting off to a quick start, South Africa lost opener Quinton de Kock at the hands of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the fourth over. Skipper Temba Bavuma was the next to fall as Mohammad Wasim Junior struck in the last ball of the powerplay.

Rassie van der Dussen stitched a 54-run stand with Aiden Markram before concussion substitute Usama Mir struck in his very first over. Hard-hitting Heinrich Klaasen was unable to fire against Pakistan and was dismissed after scoring 12 runs off 10 balls by Wasim Junior.

MARKRAM TAKES CHARGE

With South Africa at 136 for 4, Markram and David Miller formed a vital 70-run stand to take the pressure off in their 271-run chase. Markram went on to complete his half-century before Miller fell after scoring 29 runs off 33 balls.

Jansen came in and started bashing the Pakistani bowlers to firmly put South Africa’s in the driver’s seat in Chennai. However, his stay was short as he departed after scoring a 14-ball 20, thanks to a brilliant catch by Babar at backward point.

Markram was closing in on his second World Cup 2023 century but fell short, being dismissed by Usama in the 41st over after scoring 91 runs off 93 balls, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes.

With this knock, he overtook Virat Kohli to become the second-highest run-getter in the ongoing World Cup, only behind teammate De Kock.

NAIL-BITING FINISH IN CHENNAI

With South Africa needing 21 runs to win with four wickets and 10 overs in hand, Pakistan made an incredible effort to get themselves back in the contest. Following Markram’s dismissal, Afridi struck to send Coetzee back to the pavilion in the 42nd over.

Following the twin dismissals, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi resorted to singles and looked to survive against Pakistan’s bowling attack. However, Ngidi was dismissed by Haris Rauf with a brilliant one-handed catch off his own bowling. Eventually, Maharaj hit Mohammad Nawaz for a boundary to drag his side over the line, chasing down 271 runs in the 48th over, with one wicket in hand.

With this win, South Africa moved to the top of the World Cup 2023 points table with their fifth win in the tournament. As for Pakistan, they slumped to their fourth straight defeat and find themselves placed sixth in the points table with a net run-rate of -0.387.