Pakistan vs South Africa Match Highlights & Results

This has to be the best match so far in this edition. Right then! We have two matches lined up for the 28th of this month. Australia will take on New Zealand first and later, Netherlands will face Bangladesh. Join us for the action at 10.30 am IST (5 am GMT). Join us early for the build-up. Cheers!

Temba Bavuma says that the guys are enjoying the moment and there is chaos in the dressing room right now. Shares that it was a nail-biting finish and it was due to their own doing. Mentions that they did not bat well under pressure and let the game drift till the end. Shares that they will have a talk with guys who were there in that pressure situation. Further adds that they have a blueprint while batting first but cannot say so for chasing. Informs that Kagiso Rabada had lower back spasms and hence, he was rested as a precaution.

Babar Azam says that they were very close but did not finish well. Mentions that it is disappointing for everyone. Shares that they fought back very well but they were 10-15 runs short. Feels that the pacers and spinners bowled well. Also says that DRS decisions are part and parcel of the game. Ends by saying that they will give their best in the next game.

Tabraiz Shamsi is the Player of the Match. He says the early wickets helped and he enjoyed bowling to new batters. Mentions while it is going for him, he is happy but it is not always that way so he is enjoying it. Adds he never thought of playing a big shot but these are the types of games they train for and Maharaj was superb.

...Presentation next...

For the first time in the World Cup, Pakistan have lost four consecutive matches. Things are going from bad to worse for them in this World Cup. Firstly, they were at least 20 runs short. Their defensive approach got them into trouble and if not for the stand between Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan, they would have ended well below 250. During their defense, they lost Shadab Khan right at the start due to an injury. Usama Mir was about to carry drinks for his team but came in as a concussion substitute and almost turned out as a match-winner. Took the big wickets of Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram. He could have been the match-winner as well, as we believe, he was the go-to bowler in the death overs. A lot of ups and downs in the match but it is South Africa who keep the nerves and continue their winning streak.

It was looking very easy-peasy for South Africa at one point, Aiden Markram and David Miller were knocking it around with just a few runs to win. However, once Miller fell, the entertainment started. All the pressure was on Aiden Markram and the tail. Aiden Markram too fell at the very wrong time and suddenly Pakistan started to believe. They had a really good chance to win as South Africa were losing wickets. However, one advantage South Africa had was they had many balls left to play. Keshav Maharaj didn't try anything innovative and just hung around along with the tail. Lungi Ngidi fell but Tabraiz Shamsi scored four crucial runs to get his team over the line.

Why Babar Azam why? Why not Usama Mir who has been brilliant today? He took two big wickets but Babar still went for Mohammad Nawaz who was having an off day. What a game. What was looking like a comfortable match for South Africa turned out to be a thriller. A huge roar from Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj as they take their team over the line.

Mohammad Nawaz to Keshav Maharaj, Four!FOUR! SOUTH AFRICA HAVE DONE IT! Flat and on middle, Maharaj whips it behind square leg, past the infield player for a boundary. South Africa win by 1 wicket.

Mohammad Nawaz to Tabraiz Shamsi, 1 run.A boundary needed now. Flat and on off, this is flicked to square leg for a single.

Who will bowl now?  Pakistan have to gamble. It has to be Usama Mir. Nope, it is Mohammad Nawaz. 5 runs needed in 18 balls.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Very full and on middle, Maharaj defends, inside edges it onto the pads.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, No run.A length ball, around off, Maharaj makes a solid block.

Mohammad Wasim to Tabraiz Shamsi, 1 run.Length ball, outside off, Shamsi dabs it to third man for one. Pakistan have to bring in more players. Babar Azam is not aggressive here.

Mohammad Wasim to Tabraiz Shamsi, No run.A length ball on off, Shamsi looks to defend but inside edges it onto the pads. The emotions are high in Chennai. Anybody's game.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, 1 run.Length ball, outside off, Maharaj punches it through covers for a single. South Africa are one hit away.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Shorter and outside off, Maharaj slashes his blade and misses.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, Wide!Wide! 7 needed. Full and sliding down leg, Maharaj misses his clip.

Shaheen Afridi is done, Haris Rauf is done. Mohammad Wasim has just one over. Pakistan will hope the game ends in this over as they will have to go to spin after that.

Haris Rauf to Tabraiz Shamsi, No run.Pakistan are pumped up. They have taken a review for LBW. No bat on this one. It is umpire's call on wicket's hitting. On-field decision stays. Not out! A length ball on middle and leg. Shamsi misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. The replay shows it clips the leg pole. Very close. The reaction of Pakistani players is priceless.

Haris Rauf to Tabraiz Shamsi, No run.DOT BALL! A yorker, outside off, this is jammed to point.

Haris Rauf to Tabraiz Shamsi, Wide!Wide! 8 runs needed. Length and slanting down leg. Shamsi misses his clip.

Haris Rauf to Tabraiz Shamsi, 2 runs.TWO RUNS! 9 runs needed now. Fuller and on off. Shamsi gets a leading edge through point, in the gap for two points.

Tabraiz Shamsi is the last man in. Can he survive and get Keshav Maharaj on strike?

Haris Rauf to Lungi Ngidi, OUT! c & b Haris Rauf.OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Pakistan need one more wicket. What a game this is turning out to be. This is full and angling on middle, Ngidi tries to use the angle and flick but gets a leading edge back to Haris Rauf who dives forward, gets his left hand out and plucks right above the ground. Unbelievable!

Haris Rauf to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Another dot! This is full and outside off, swings away. Ngidi looks to drive but misses.

Haris Rauf to Lungi Ngidi, No run.DOT! A length ball on off, Ngidi hops and blocks.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Dot to end! Good length and on middle, blocked.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, Wide!WIDE! Bonus runs! Down the leg side. Wided.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Back of a length and on off, this is guided to point.

Mohammad Wasim to Lungi Ngidi, Leg bye.The idea is right but the line is not the one he wants to bowl! This is on the pads, Lungi Ngidi looks to flick but misses. This hits the pad and rolls on the leg side. A leg bye taken.

Mohammad Wasim to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Back of a length and around off, Lungi Ngidi looks to guide it towards point but it goes off the underedge towards the keeper.

Mohammad Wasim to Keshav Maharaj, 1 run.13 needed! Feel Pakistan are a little too defensive! Need to bring in more fielders! This is fuller and on off, this is pushed through covers for one.

Mohammad Wasim to Lungi Ngidi, Leg bye.A little too straight and on the pads, Lungi Ngidi looks to flick it but misses, it hits the pad and rolls on the leg side. A leg bye taken.

Mohammad Wasim is back!

Shaheen Afridi to Keshav Maharaj, No run.BEATEN AGAIN! End of a top spell by Shaheen Afridi! Brilliant! Length and around off, it lands and moves away. Keshav Maharaj is beaten as he tries to defend.

Shaheen Afridi to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Around off, defended.

Shaheen Afridi to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Too wide! Waste of a delivery. Left alone.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, 1 run.Edged but wide! Outside off, shorter, Lungi Ngidi hangs his bat out, it goes off the outside edge but wide of first slip and down to third man for one.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Back of a length and on off, defended. Shaheen needs to be fuller. He also needs to attack the stumps. He has been way too short so far.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, Wide!WIDE! Bonus run! Short and down the leg side. Wided.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Whizzes past the outside edge! On a length and around off, Lungi Ngidi looks to defend but is beaten.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Flatter and on off, this is pushed to cover.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Well bowled! Floated up on off, kept out again.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Tossed up, nice and slow on off, this is pushed to cover.

Usama Mir to Lungi Ngidi, 1 run.The googly but it is too short, Lungi Ngidi has enough time to work it on the leg side for one more.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, 1 run.Another single! Singles will do it! Tossed up on off, this is pushed through covers for one.

Usama Mir to Lungi Ngidi, 1 run.This is not what Azam wanted him to bowl. Tossed up on middle, this is hit down to long on for one.

Shaheen Afridi to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Brilliant over again! From around the wicket, he angles it into the off pole and then gets it to move away. Keshav Maharaj is beaten again as he tries to defend. Good stuff. It keeps Ngidi on strike now against the leggie.

Shaheen Afridi to Keshav Maharaj, No run.That is a beauty! Length and around off, this lands and moves away. Keshav Maharaj is beaten as he looks to defend.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, 1 run.Yes, no but in the end a single! The fielder in the deep was quite lazy! Fuller and outside off, this is driven through covers. Ngidi wants a run but Keshav Maharaj is in two minds. Both stop halfway down but the fielder in the deep takes his own time to get to the ball. He is unaware. A single in the end.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Almost! All of a sudden the Pakistan fans have found their voice here! On a length and around off, this lands and moves away. Lungi Ngidi is beaten as he looks to defend.

Shaheen Afridi to Lungi Ngidi, No run.Not the best of buts! This is well wide outside off, left alone.

Lungi Ngidi walks out to bat. He is not known for his batting but all he has to do is stay in there with Keshav Maharaj! Not going to be easy as Pakistan have their tails up.

Shaheen Afridi to Gerald Coetzee, OUT! c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi.OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Two in the last two overs and Pakistan will feel they are on top now. They are two wickets away with South Africa needing another 21 runs. It is Shaheen Afridi who gets the breakthrough. He has his third. Now they surely believe as they are into the tail. This is fuller and outside off, angling away. Gerald Coetzee goes after it away from the body, it takes the outside edge and the keeper does the rest.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Keshav Maharaj survives! Shorter and around off, this is guided to point.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.On middle, defended.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Flighted ball and on off, it is pushed to cover.

Usama Mir to Keshav Maharaj, No run.Tossed up on middle, it is worked to mid-wicket.

Keshav Maharaj is the new man in.

Usama Mir to Aiden Markram, OUT! c Babar Azam b Usama Mir.OUT! TAKEN! Babar Azam takes it and puts in a loud roar. He believes, the Pakistan dug out now believes as they have got the last recognized batter, Aiden Markram! Usama Mir, the gamble to go to him pays off. South Africa still 21 runs away. This time luck favors Usama Mir. We saw a couple of times, Markram clearing point after the ball hitting the outer half but this time it finds the fielder. This is tossed up outside off, Aiden Markram's eyes lit up as he sees the flight. He looks to go big downtown but it goes off the outer half towards point. Azam takes it by running back. Top knock from Markram but has he opened the door for Pakistan here?

Usama Mir to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Gerald Coetzee gets off strike! Tossed up on off, this is pushed down to long off for one.

Powerplay 3! Now a total of 5 fielders can be placed outside the ring. Really do not think Pakistan will need that many fielders outside the 30-yard area. Also, Usama Mir comes on.

Shaheen Afridi to Aiden Markram, 2 runs.TWO MORE! 22 runs needed now. Length ball, outside off, Markram crunches it through covers for a brace.

Shaheen Afridi to Aiden Markram, No run.Fuller and outside off, swings in late. Markram slashes but bottom edges it to the keeper. He is feeling the pressure.

Shaheen Afridi to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Length ball, outside off, Gerald Coetzee uses the pace and plays it to short third man. A direct-hit at the batter's end and Markram was in serious trouble.

Shaheen Afridi to Gerald Coetzee, No run.Angling on middle, Gerald Coetzee tucks it to mid on.

Shaheen Afridi to Gerald Coetzee, 2 runs.This is full and outside off, Gerald Coetzee splices his driven through backward point for a couple.

Shaheen Afridi to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Shorter and outside off, Markram works it to covers for a single.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, No run.On a length and on off, this is tapped to backward point.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, 2 runs.Outside off on a length. Gerald Coetzee dabs it to third man for a couple more. Shaheen Afridi does well there.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, No run.Full and outside off, this is punched to cover.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, 2 runs.30 runs needed now. Angling on the pads, this is flicked through square leg for a couple.

Haris Rauf to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Length and outside off, Markram works it through covers for a single.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Drops it short and outside off, Gerald Coetzee ramps it over to third man for a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, No run.On a length and on off, Markram punches it to cover.

Mohammad Wasim to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Outside off, this is guided to third man for one more.

Mohammad Wasim to Gerald Coetzee, No run.This is full and on middle and leg, Gerald Coetzee keeps it out.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Full and on the pads, this is flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, No run.Shorter and on off, Markram punches it to cover.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, No run.On a length and on middle, Markram blocks. Markram needs to be tactical and calculative from now. The win rests on him now.

Haris Rauf to Gerald Coetzee, No run.This is full and on off, it is pushed to mid off.

Gerald Coetzee walks out to the middle.

Haris Rauf to Marco Jansen, OUT! c Babar Azam b Haris Rauf.OUT! GONE! Soft dismissal. Quick innings from Jansen comes to an end. A length ball, outside off, Jansen tries to ride it past backward point but plays aerially and to the left of Babar Azam who takes a fine catch.

Haris Rauf to Marco Jansen, Six!SIX! How about that from Jansen! This is very full and around off. Jansen makes room, gets low and tonks it over long off for a six. Right off the middle.

Haris Rauf to Marco Jansen, Four!FOUR!  Well played! This is short and outside off, Jansen opens the face of the bat in the last moment and dabs it through third man.

Haris Rauf to Aiden Markram, 1 run.A length ball, outside off, this is guided to third man for a single.

Haris Rauf to Aiden Markram, No run.On a length and on off, Markram keeps it out.

Mohammad Wasim to Marco Jansen, No run.Too full and on off, Jansen smashes it down to Wasim who somehow gets a foot on it and saves crucial runs.

Mohammad Wasim to Marco Jansen, Four!FOUR! Jansen might just be the aggressor from here on. South Africa don't want to take it deep. Length ball on off, this is hammered down past the diving mid on fielder for four.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Some reverse swing here. On middle, Markram is cramped as he looks to push, inside edges it to fine leg for one.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, Four!FOUR! Enough on it. Shorter and around off, Markram pulls and plays it straight down the ground for a boundary. Not off the middle but gets the desired result.

Mohammad Wasim to Aiden Markram, No run.Short of a length and outside off, zips back in a bit. Markram slashes his blade and misses. Mohammad Rizwan is not interested but some of the other Pakistani players are. Pakistan take the review. UltraEdge shows nothing on it. Case closed.

Mohammad Wasim to Marco Jansen, 1 run.A yorker on the pads. Jansen tucks it to square leg for a single.

Usama Mir to Marco Jansen, 1 run.On middle, this is pushed down to long on for one.

Usama Mir to Marco Jansen, 2 runs.Just wide. This is slower and down leg. Jansen plays the reverse sweep, it goes off the top edge wide of short third man. Two.

Usama Mir to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Yet another one as this is eased down to long off.

Usama Mir to Marco Jansen, 1 run.On middle, this is pushed down to long off for one.

Usama Mir to Marco Jansen, No run.Yet another full toss but this time Jansen finds the fielder at short third man with the reverse sweep.

Usama Mir to Aiden Markram, 1 run.Usama comes on. He starts with a full toss which is driven through covers for one.