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World Cup 2023 | Markram's 91,  Keshav Maharaj’s Composure Takes SA Past PAK In A Thriller

image-lo8vcs1pAiden Markram celebrates 50 with David Miller at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Brief Scores: Pakistan: 270 all out (46.4 overs) [Saud Shakeel: 52 (52), Babar Azam: 50 (65); Tabraiz Shamsi 4/60 (10), Marco Jansen 3/43 (9)] lost to South Africa: 271-9 (47.2 overs) [Aiden Markram: 91 (93), David Miller: 29 (33); Shaheen Afridi 3/45 (10), Usama Mir 2/45 (8)] by one wicket.

Last South African pair holds onto its nerves against Pakistan as World Cup 2023 gets its first thriller.

Shadab, Shakeel overcome Shamsi in PAK’s 270

Aware of South Africa’s penchant for batting first, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to take first guard at the crease. His openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, however, failed to complement their skipper’s call as both were removed by Marco Jansen within the powerplay.

Babar at number three crafted yet another half-century, his third of the 2023 World Cup, before he became one of four Tabraiz Shamsi’s victims of the day. At 141-5, Pakistan middle-order stars Shadab Khan and Saud Shakeel formed a counterattacking 84-run stand for the sixth wicket to take their side past the 200-run mark without further casualty.

Shakeel ended up top-scoring for his side with a run-a-ball 52 as Pakistan surged to 270 in their innings. Shamsi bowled out his spell to claim 4-60, while speedsters Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi and Jansen also claimed wickets on a turning Chennai surface.

Markram breaks PAK, Maharaj lands knockout punch

South Africa, having mastered the art of charting 300-plus totals upfront over the past month-and-a-half, suddenly found itself in somewhat unfamiliar territory by chasing 271 against a potent Pakistan attack. Boosted with the return of regular skipper Temba Bavuma, both him and his in-form opening partner Quinton de Kock failed to convert their starts into a big one.

Aiden Markram at number four aided South Africa’s rebellion for the next two-and-a-half hours with his near run-a-ball 91. Forming crucial partnerships with David Miller and Marco Jansen, Markram guided South Africa towards the brink of a certain victory before Pakistan bowlers revolted with late wickets.

Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and concussion substitute Usama Mir all struck towards the closing stages to reduce South Africa from 235-5 to 260-9 in less than 45 minutes time. Fortunately for the Proteas, last wicket pair of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi held on to their nerves under pressure, survived a few tense moments until the former landed the knockout punch towards deep backward square to notch up a remarkable South African win.

The win elevated Temba Bavuma’s troops on the 2023 World Cup points table, displacing hosts India from the top. The result also ensured South Africa broke their 24-year-old World Cup winless jinx against Pakistan.