Throughout this World Cup, there’s been hope for more close encounters, and today’s game between the Proteas and Pakistan was exactly that. In a game that constantly ebbed and flowed, it was the South Africans who came out ahead in a box-office thriller.

Pakistan opted to bat first at spin-friendly Chennai, and Marco Jansen would swiftly send the openers back within the first 10 overs. However, skipper Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan would counterattack and build a steady partnership to get Pakistan back on track.

A lapse in concentration brought about Rizwan’s wicket, and the introduction of Tabraiz Shamsi would ensure that SA would strike every time a promising partnership was brewing. Babar reached his half-century and nicked off, and Pakistan were in trouble.

But it was Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan who started off a determined rescue act. Saud would notch up another half-century, while Shadab provided the big hits to keep his side motoring along. They added 84 runs together, and Gerald Coetzee would strike right when it seemed like the Proteas were releasing pressure.

Following the wicket of Saud, the innings gradually began to fold. A handy cameo from Nawaz would drive them to 270, but more importantly, they hadn’t batted their full 50 overs. Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets.

Coming to the chase, Quinton de Kock started off in typical fashion, but one too many big shots cut his innings short. As was the case with the returning skipper, Temba Bavuma.

Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram would soon dig in and stitch together a crucial 54-run stand. But fine margins brought about the end, as Usama Mir trapped van der Dussen in front, in spite of a very close review.

Markram had to stick around for most of the rest of the chase, and things started to get tense when the in-form Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed cheaply.

David Miller provided very useful support, and he would add 70 runs with Markram. However, a peach from Shaheen Shah Afridi had him nicking behind to Rizwan. All of a sudden, Pakistan were believing again.

Marco Jansen briefly impressed, but the quest for quick runs resulted in his departure, too. And when Markram finally fell after a dogged 91, it soon became a panic button situation.

Shaheen struck yet again to dismiss Coetzee, and SA were in danger of falling agonizingly short.

However, a few useful runs in the lower order, coupled with wides from the pacers, narrowed down the margin. The remaining overs of pace in the back end went in vain, as the final wicket stand between Maharaj and Shamsi remained unhurt.

Maharaj hit the winning runs in the 48th over off Nawaz, clinching an invaluable victory.

The Proteas are now at the top of the table, but that doesn’t imply that they’re a finished product. There were plenty of concerns regarding chasing, and this result will be a useful confidence builder going forward.

PAK 270 in 46.4 overs (Saud 52, Babar 50 – Shamsi 10-0-60-4) in 46.4 overs
SA 271-9 in 47.2 overs (Markram 91 – Afridi 10-0-45-3)