Complete Agony for Pakistan. Pakistan as a unit looked feisty with pacers like Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf. This game came down to the last wicket. Keshav Maharaj is now a bona-fide super star of Proteas.
South Africa isn’t known to chase well. That’s going to change now. Everyone contributed equally. Right from the top order batsman down to Number 11.
Pakistan was a sure shot winner, if and only if, Umpire Alex Wharf had declared T Shamsi OUT. Pakistan took DRS, didn’t help though. As wicket hitting is an umpire call.
PLAYING XI PAKISTAN: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(C), Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Haris Rauf.
PLAYING XI SOUTH AFRICA: Temba Bavuma(C), Quinton de Kock(wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Read about the Allegation against Virat Kohli.
Things are gone from bad to worse for Pakistan in this World Cup. They have never lost 4 consecutive matches in World Cup History. Pakistan in retrospect can do a lot better. Kudos, to Proteas to keep the nerves clam in this classic thriller and grabbing 2 crucial points. Proteas are now at the top of the table.
Abdullah Shafique with an average of 63.75 in this World Cup, was expected to take the baton on and continue his impressive run. Well… he gave away his wicket for free, playing a lose pull shot. Lungi Ngidi didn’t even have to move.
Mohammad Rizwan had some verbal pleasantries exchanged in the middle with Marco Jansen. Rizwan looked absolutely rage after that. He started attacking everyone. Eventually, throwing away his wicket at 31 runs.
The heat at Chidambaram stadium didn’t allowed the Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam and power hitter Iftikhar Ahmed at stay in between for long.
Read about the Biggest Upset in World Cup History.
Saud and Shadab took things under control and scored 52 and 43 respectively. If not for them, Pakistan would not even be able to cross 200 runs. Pakistan was saved from an embarrassment of repeat Telecast of IND vs PAK.
Things looked under control till David Milller and Aiden Markram was out in the middle, scoring runs for the side. After, Miller got out. It was on to Markram to bring this home. Marco Jansen 20 of 14 came in handy before his wicket fall. Still, 35 runs needed and 3 wickets to spare. Proteas had the hopes up because the man in form was still out in the middle. After, Markram got out on 91. Proteas still needed 21 runs to win. The real match here is Keshav Maharaj, he scored the winning runs. This could be a team that takes the World Cup back home.
