ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan vs South Africa, 26th ODI – Who Said What?

South Africa. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Pakistan have suffered yet another defeat in the ongoing ODI World Cup, and with that, they have further complicated their chances to qualify for the semi-finals. Batting first, the Babar Azam-led side struggled to get going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Babar led from the front and hit a half-century, but right after he reached the landmark, the skipper was dismissed. Towards the end, Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan played well to help the team post 270 runs on board, but that was not enough.

When it came to the chase, Quinton de Kock gave a flying start, hitting 19 runs in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first over. However, the stumper-batter couldn’t make it count and was dismissed early, following which Aiden Markram showed his class and hit 91 runs to win it for South Africa. After his dismissal, there was some tension in the air with the game wide open, but the Proteas managed to win in order to solidify their spot in the top four.

Pakistan batters fail to make it count

Right after their half-centuries, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel went back to the pavilion. Given the start, it was expected from them to help Pakistan post a defendable total, but that didn’t go according to the plan. Pakistan batters once again failed to perform under pressure, and that’s one of the reasons behind their defeat.

Aiden Markram stepping up

Known as a great player of spin, the surface in Chennai definitely suited Aiden Markram, as he hit 91 runs in the middle. He was terrific with the bat, and despite Proteas losing wickets here and then, the 29-year-old kept building the innings before he got out.

Poor planning and no execution

Pakistan’s bowling unit seems pale as they look to be a side without a proper plan for the majority part of the match. They seem to depend more on individual brilliance, and that hasn’t been working for them in the ongoing ODI World Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been getting the job done from time to time, but he barely got any support from his teammates.

Losing skipper Babar Azam said:

We are very close, we did not finish well. Very disappointing for the whole team. We fought back very well. In the batting we were 10-15 short. The fast bowlers and spinners fought well but unfortunately it was not to be. It is part of the game, in DRS it is part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favored us. We have an opportunity to win this and stay in the race but not to be. We will try our best in the next 3 matches and put our efforts and play for Pakistan. Let’s see where we will stand after that.

Winning skipper Temba Bavuma said:

It is chaos at the moment. The guys are enjoying the moment. The guys are picking up Shamsi. Chaos at the moment. Nail-biting finish, if you are a South African fan, you will be happy. Pressure with us chasing, we haven’t done well to rectify that. It will be easier to have those conversations especially after the win. You need to have the guys in the best situations and truly speak out as to what they were thinking. Hard to say now but those conversations will happen. It is something we have spoken and something which has been thrown about. We have a blueprint when we bat first, we can’t say with conviction we have that when we are cashing. We want to be a lot more clinical with the bat. That’s nice to hear. KG (Rabada) is good, it was more precautionary, he is experiencing lower back issues and a couple of days rest before New Zealand and he will be in contention. Ecstatic for Shamsi, started with the ball, came in when conditions were helpful and then with the bat. We have seen Shamsi gloating on social media about his batting. It won’t stop for the next two weeks but it’s nice for a senior guy like Shamsi to come out with the bat like that.

POTM Tabraiz Shamsi said:

Really happy. I knew I had to do a job there, but the guys before me set it up. Credit goes to those guys too. I’ve played enough cricket to know sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn’t. I didn’t expect to be here with my pads on doing this interview. (On the last over) If I tried to play a big shot and if it didn’t come off, the boys wouldn’t welcome me back to the change room. So there was no doubt in my mind that I had to just defend and get Kesh on strike. These are the kind of moments you dream of, to be in the middle at the end and win your team a game. Kesh was unbelievable out there