In the 26th and most important match of the ICC World Cup, South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket after a sensational game. South Africa achieved Pakistan’s target of 271 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 47.2 overs, with Aiden Markram scoring 91 runs.
Abdullah Shafiq and Imamul Haq opened the innings for Pakistan but once again the Pakistani opening pair could not give the team a good start. Abdullah Shafiq returned to the pavilion after scoring only nine runs off a Marco Jansen delivery. Imamul Haq also scored 12 runs off 18 balls and became a victim of Jansen’s ball.
Pakistan’s third wicket was Muhammad Rizwan who scored 31 runs, caught behind the wickets off Coetzee while Iftikhar Ahmed was caught on the boundary trying to hit Tabriz Shamsi for a six, after scoring 21 runs. Captain Babar Azam scored a half-century but he too was caught behind the wickets after scoring 50 runs off a blistering ball from Tabriz Shamsi.
After five wickets fell on 141, Shadab Khan and young batsman Saud Shakeel batted responsibly and formed a brilliant partnership, taking the score to 225 runs. Shadab was dismissed for 43 runs off 36 balls. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel scored a magnificent half-century, but he too returned to the pavilion after scoring 52 runs off 52 balls with the help of 7 fours.
The entire Pakistan team was bowled out for 270 runs in 46.4 overs.
On behalf of South Africa, Tabrez Shamsi took four wickets while Marko Jansen got three wickets and Coetzee got two wickets.
Chasing Pakistan’s target of 271 runs, South Africa got off to a good start, with the two openers putting on a 34-run partnership before Quinton de Kock was dismissed for 24 runs.
South Africa suffered its second loss in the form of captain Tamba Bavuma, who returned to the pavilion after scoring 28 runs, while van der Daussen scored 21 runs and Henrik Klaasen was caught out for 12 runs. In such a situation, a partnership of 70 runs was established between Miller and Aiden Markram, but then Miller was dismissed for 29 runs while Adam Markram scored a brilliant 91 runs.
When the total score of South Africa reached 250 runs, Pakistan made a brilliant comeback, got two wickets, and came back into the match. However, South Africa’s tail-and-beater Maharaj and Shamsi played responsible batting and established an important partnership of 11 runs to give their team victory after a thrilling match.
On behalf of Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets, and Haris Rauf, Wasim Junior, and Osama Amir took two wickets respectively.
This the first time in the history of the World Cup, Pakistan lost in 4 consecutive matches
