The 26th match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 was played between Pakistan and South Africa. On October 27, both teams faced each other at the MA Chidambaram Cricket Stadium in Chennai. After winning the toss, Babar Azam decided to bat first, after which the team scored 270 runs on the scoreboard. In reply, South Africa won a thrilling match in 47.2 overs with the last wicket remaining.
Pakistan team flopped in batting:
After winning the toss, Babar Azam decided to bat first, after which the team was all out after scoring 270 runs in 46.4 overs. Batting first, the team lost the wickets of its openers in the powerplay itself. Abdullah Shafiq was out after scoring 9 runs and Imam ul Haq after scoring 12 runs.
However, after his dismissal, captain Babar Azam took charge of the innings by standing at one end. He came to bat at number three and played a half-century. Apart from them, runs came from the bats of Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel scored half-centuries of 50 runs and 52 runs respectively, while Shadab Khan contributed 43 runs.
Opening batsman Abdullah Shafiq scored 9 runs, Imam Ul Haq scored 12 runs, Mohammad Rizwan scored 31 runs, Iftikhar Ahmed scored 21 runs, Mohammad Nawaz scored 24 runs, Shaheen Shah Afridi scored 2 runs and Mohammad Wasim scored 7 runs. Tabraiz Shamsi took four wickets for South Africa. Marco Jansen and Gerald Katzi took three and two wickets respectively. Lungisani Ngidi took one wicket.
Shadab Khan injured:
The performance of the South African team, which came to bat in the second innings, was excellent. However, during this period the Pakistan team suffered a major setback. Actually, Shadab Khan injured himself while fielding in the first over of the Proteas team’s innings. After this, he had to leave the match midway due to a concussion.
Osama Mir was brought into the team as his substitute. He took two important wickets for Pakistan. Osama Mir sent Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram back to the pavilion. In the absence of Shadab Khan, he proved his ability very well.
Africa won in the last 15 minutes of drama:
Aiden Markram played a brilliant innings for the South African team, which came to achieve the target given by Pakistan. They defeated the Pakistani bowlers and scored a lot of runs. Aiden Markram scored 91 runs in 93 balls. Apart from him, no other batsman batted. Temba Bavuma scored 28 runs, Quinton de Kock scored 24 runs, Rassie Van der Dussen scored 21 runs, Heinrich Klaasen scored 12 runs and David Miller scored 29 runs. Marco Jansen contributed 20 runs, Gerald Katzi contributed 10 runs and Lungisani Ngidi contributed 4 runs. In the end, Keshav Maharaj gave this historic victory to South Africa by scoring 7 runs in 21 balls and hitting a four in 47.2 overs.
This mistake of Babar Azam proved costly:
Babar Azam’s captaincy has been the topic of discussion till now in the World Cup 2023. In this match, he made many important and good decisions but he made a big mistake by giving the last over to Mohammad Nawaz, although the overs of all his fast bowlers were over but still Usama Mir’s overs were still left, this he made a big mistake by giving the last over to Mohammad Nawaz. Expressed confidence in Nawaz and he once again bowled the ball on the leg stump which was easily converted into a four by Keshav Maharaj.
