South Africa has lost to Netherlands during a chase. Now, Pakistan needed to win their match against this SA team to stay alive in CWC 2023. They have put everything on the line to win against South Africa. On the other hand, SA needed to win a match chasing to overcome their fears under pressure. Pakistan has made it tough for South Africa till the last ball. At a stage, Pakistan almost won the match for one DRS decision of LBW.
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first. Babar Azam(50) and Saud Shakeel(52) scored good fifties but they could not go on to make it big. South Africa keot taking wickets at the important time. Shadab Khan scored 43 but he had be replaced with Usman Mir due to concussion.
Mohammad Rizwan(31) looked good but fell when he looked good. Pakistan ended their innings with 270 on board and did not bat for full 50 overs. Tabraiz Shamsi(4/60), Marco Jansen(3/43), Gerald Coetzee(2/42) and Lungi Ngidi(1/45) took wickets for South Africa.
In the chase, Quinton de Kock gave a huge start with 24 from 14 balls. Temba Bavuma(28) and Rassie van der Dussen(21) got out at wrong time. South Africa needed a batter who keeps scoring at good rate. Aiden Markram kept going at one end. Heinrich Klaasen(12) and David Miller(29) tried to help him but they got out putting more pressure on Markram. South Africa found it difficult to chase as in the middle overs Pakistan bowlers kept it tight.
Aiden Markram(91) fell in the 41st over and gave Pakistan a huge advantage. Shaheen Shah Afridi(3/45) and Mohammad Wasim(2/50) took wickets at the important situations. South Africa major wickets pushing themselves to the wall. After every major bowler finished their quota Mohammad Nawaz gave away 5 runs and Pakistan lost. South Africa almost lost the match as Haris Rauf almost got the final wicket.
With this win South Africa topped the table while Paksitan is effectively eliminated from the CWC. They are now on top place with 10 points. India will now look to win against England and win 12 points. But with much better spin bowlers in the middle-overs South Africs could have lost this match. We have to wait and see, if they will have to chase against even bigger teams.