Pakistan vs South Africa | CWC 2023 | Match 25 | Highlights

PAK vs SA CWC 2023 Match 25

This would be the sixth match for both teams in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan is currently placed in the sixth position on the team table of the ICC World Cup 2023, having accumulated four points. In contrast, South Africa holds the second position in the table with eight points. Pakistan secured an 81-run victory over the Netherlands at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on October 6, 2023.

In their second match, Pakistan achieved a six-wicket victory (with 10 balls remaining) over Sri Lanka at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on October 10, 2023. However, in their third and fourth matches, Pakistan faced defeats against India and Australia by seven wickets and 62 runs, respectively. Their fifth match resulted in an eight-wicket loss to Afghanistan (with six balls remaining) at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on October 23, 2023.

On the other hand, South Africa initiated their World Cup campaign with a resounding 102-run victory over Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi on October 7, 2023. In their second match, the Proteas defeated Australia by a significant margin of 134 runs on October 12, 2023, at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. However, they faced a 38-run defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in their third match at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, on October 17, 2023. South Africa rebounded with convincing victories in their fourth and fifth matches, defeating England (on October 21) and Bangladesh (on October 24) by margins of 229 runs and 149 runs, respectively.

Playing 11

Pakistan (Playing XI): 

1. Abdullah Shafique, 
2. Imam-ul-Haq, 
3. Babar Azam(c), 
4. Mohammad Rizwan(w), 
5. Saud Shakeel, 
6. Shadab Khan, 
7. Iftikhar Ahmed, 
8. Mohammad Nawaz, 
9. Shaheen Afridi, 
10. Mohammad Wasim Jr, 
11. Haris Rauf

South Africa (Playing XI): 

1. Quinton de Kock(w), 
2. Temba Bavuma(c), 
3. Rassie van der Dussen, 
4. Aiden Markram, 
5. Heinrich Klaasen, 
6. David Miller, 
7. Marco Jansen, 
8. Gerald Coetzee, 
9. Keshav Maharaj, 
10. Tabraiz Shamsi, 
11. Lungi Ngidi

Weather Forecast:

The weather conditions in Chennai are anticipated to be humid with intervals of clouds and sunshine. According to AccuWeather, there is a 4% chance of rain during the day and an 8% chance at night. Thunderstorms are not expected in the city over the next 24 hours.

The temperature is predicted to range from 32 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius. Winds are expected to blow at speeds of approximately 11 km/hr in the north-east direction during the day and 6 km/h in the east direction at night. There is a possibility of wind gusts with speeds of 30 km/h during the day and 22 km/h at night. Cloud cover is likely to be around 71% during the daytime and 46% at night.

Match Summary

In a crucial match during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 held in Chennai on October 27, South Africa successfully chased down Pakistan’s total of 270 runs, winning by just 1 wicket.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Temba Bavuma, the South African captain, mentioned that he would have preferred to bat first as well.

Despite a rocky start, Pakistan managed to post a total of 270 runs on the scoreboard before losing all their wickets. In Pakistan’s innings, Captain Babar Azam contributed 50 runs, Saud Shakeel scored 52, and Shadab Khan added 43. For South Africa, Tabraiz Shamsi claimed 4 wickets, Marco Jansen took 3 wickets, Gerald Coetzee secured 2 wickets, and Lungi Ngidi captured one.

Chasing a target of 271, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early in their innings. However, Temba Bavuma (28) and Rassie van der Dussen (21) kept the momentum going. Despite losing wickets at times, the South African team managed to withstand Pakistan’s challenging bowling attack, largely due to a brilliant inning of 91 by Aiden Markram. In the end, Keshav Maharaj sealed the victory with a boundary on the second delivery of the 48th over, securing a 1-wicket win with 16 balls remaining.

Pakistan’s bowling performance was led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took three wickets, while Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, and Usama Mir each claimed two wickets.

With this victory, South Africa moved to the top of the ICC points table, surpassing India, with 10 points. Pakistan, on the other hand, remained in 6th place with 4 points.

Both South Africa and Pakistan made a few changes to their playing XIs. In the Pakistani side, Mohammad Wasim Jr replaced the injured Hassan Ali, and Mohammad Nawaz returned after an injury. In the South African lineup, Temba Bavuma, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Lungi Ngidi replaced Reeza Hendricks, Kagiso Rabada, and Lizaad Williams.

Babar Azam, the world’s top-ranked ODI batsman, is under scrutiny amid rumors that he could be removed from the captaincy if Pakistan fails to qualify for the World Cup. He will aim to make a strong statement with his performance. Another player with something to prove for Pakistan is Shadab Khan, an all-rounder who has had a disappointing tournament so far in the 2023 World Cup, with a total of just 74 runs. Shadab was only reinstated in the squad in the last game after Mohammad Nawaz’s injury.

Scorecard

Pakistan  (50 ovs maximum)

South Africa  (T: 271 runs from 50 ovs)