Chennai, October 27, 2023: In an electrifying clash at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, South Africa secured a nail-biting win against Pakistan in the 26th ODI of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. The match kept fans on the edge of their seats as South Africa triumphed over Pakistan by a mere 1 wicket with 16 balls to spare, solidifying their lead in the points table.
Pakistan, having won the toss, chose to bat first. Captain Babar Azam displayed remarkable form, scoring 50 runs off 65 balls before getting caught by Quinton de Kock off a Tabraiz Shamsi delivery. Saud Shakeel made a valuable contribution with 52 runs from 52 balls, only to be caught once again by Quinton de Kock, this time off Tabraiz Shamsi again. Shadab Khan added 43 runs from 36 balls before Keshav Maharaj caught him on a Gerald Coetzee delivery. Pakistan’s innings concluded at 270 runs in the 47th over, with significant contributions from Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz.
Tabraiz Shamsi excelled with the ball, securing 4 crucial wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs, supported by Marco Jansen’s 3 wickets, Gerald Coetzee’s 2, and Lungi Ngidi’s 1.
Chasing a target of 271 runs, South Africa initiated their innings strongly, thanks to an impressive partnership between Captain Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock. Aiden Markram played a pivotal role, amassing 91 runs from 93 balls before falling victim to Usama Mir, caught by Babar Azam. Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Marco Jansen, along with contributions from lower-order and tail-end batsmen, carried South Africa to a dramatic victory, securing their leading position on the points table. From Pakistan’s bowling perspective, Shaheen Afridi claimed 3 wickets in his 10 overs, conceding 45 runs, while Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Usama Mir each secured 2 wickets.
With 5 victories in 6 matches, South Africa now leads the points table, edging past India with a superior net run rate. In contrast, Pakistan has won 2 and lost 4 matches, facing an uphill battle to advance to the knockout stage.
The ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 continues with matches scheduled for tomorrow. The first fixture will feature Australia and New Zealand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala, marking the 27th match of the tournament. The second game will showcase Bangladesh against the Netherlands at Eden Gardens, hosting its inaugural match of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.
