by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
Keshav Maharaj’s jubilation was palpable as he hit the winning runs with only the last batsman left, bringing immense relief to the South African players in the pavilion. Against Pakistan in Chennai, South Africa managed to shake off their tag of ‘chokers’, securing their first successful World Cup chase.
The win elevated South Africa to the table’s pinnacle alongside India, with ten points each. Though ahead on net run rate, they’ve played one more game than India.
The foundation for this victory was laid by their bowlers. Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen, in particular, restricted Pakistan to 270 in under 47 overs, a notable feat given Pakistan’s comfortable position at 225/5 in the 40th over. With Aiden Markram’s brilliant 91 and his partnership with David Miller, South Africa looked set for an easy win. But Miller’s dismissal in the 34th over by Shaheen Shah Afridi brought the twist.
The tide seemed to turn again when Jansen partnered with Markram, going aggressively after the Pakistani bowlers. However, a misjudged shot saw Jansen caught out, leaving South Africa still needing 36 with four wickets in hand. The situation worsened when Usama Mir, a concussion substitute for Shadab Khan, dismissed Markram, placing South Africa 22 runs away with no recognized batsmen left.
