South Africa pulled off a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in a World Cup 2023 match at Chennai on Friday, securing their place in the semi-finals with one game to spare. Chasing 271, South Africa were reduced to 203 for 7 in the 40th over before a lower-order fightback led by Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen took them close to the target. Markram top-scored with 91 off 93 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, while Jansen smashed 20 off 14 balls with two fours and a six. However, both fell in quick succession, leaving South Africa needing 12 runs from the last three overs with two wickets in hand.
Pakistan sensed an opportunity to snatch a win and keep their hopes alive, but Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi held their nerve and took South Africa over the line with 16 balls remaining. Maharaj hit the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz, sparking wild celebrations in the South African camp. Shamsi, who earlier took four wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs, was named the player of the match for his all-round performance.
Pakistan had won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to put up a big total on a good batting pitch. However, they were pegged back by some disciplined bowling from South Africa, who picked up wickets at regular intervals. Babar Azam was the only Pakistan batsman to cross fifty, scoring 50 off 65 balls with four fours and a six. Saud Shakeel also played a useful knock of 52 off 52 balls with seven fours, while Shadab Khan chipped in with 43 off 36 balls with three fours and two sixes. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 270 in 46.4 overs, with Marco Jansen taking three wickets for 43 runs in nine overs.
South Africa’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma inside the first 10 overs. Rassie van der Dussen and Markram then steadied the innings with a 58-run stand for the third wicket, but Pakistan fought back with four quick wickets to reduce South Africa to 153 for 6 in the 29th over. David Miller and Markram then added 50 runs for the seventh wicket, but Miller’s dismissal triggered another mini-collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for eight runs.
With the match hanging in the balance, Jansen joined Markram and launched a counter-attack, hitting two fours and a six off Usama Mir in the 43rd over. The duo added 49 runs in just five overs to bring South Africa within touching distance of the target. However, both fell in successive overs, leaving Maharaj and Shamsi to finish the job.
The result meant that South Africa moved to the top of the table with five wins out of six matches, while Pakistan slipped to the sixth spot with two wins out of five matches. South Africa will face England in their last group match on November 1 at Kolkata, while Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on October 31 at Mumbai.
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